23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

M U S I C T H E R A P Y I N P S Y C H O T H E R A P E U T I C
T R E A T M E N T O F S C H I Z O P H R E N I A /
M U S I C O T E R A P I A E N E L T R A T A M I E N T O
P S I C O T E R A P É U T I C O D E L A E S Q U I Z O F R E N I A
H ANNE-METTE KORTEGAARD
Understanding the general principles in music therapy
treatment of schizophrenic patients is as follows:
- The understanding and treatment are dominated
by a psychodynamic approach.
- The internalisation process is to be seen as a
lifelong process where the internalised objects in the
"Inner World" of the schizophrenic patient have got their
own dynamic nature.
- The function of the music is primarily containing
and reverie.
- The improvised musical expression created by the
333
patient and the therapist together is an interpsychic
dynamic synthesis, which can be internalised and form
the basis of an intrapsychic synthesis in the "Inner
World" of the schizophrenic patient.
When the patient and the therapist improvise together
they set out for a journey into the "Inner World" of
schizophrenic patient. By sharing the musical symbols
of the patient and adding his own symbols and
imaginations into the duality of the music, the therapist
shares his own Self with the patient.
In the music theraputic improvisation we are using the
ability to create new symbols by melting the symbols
and feelings of the two improvisational partners
together. As the music at the same time has an ability to
seduce us and stimulate a regressive proces, the
improvisation is always followed by an integrating verbal
dialogue.
In the paper, the use of improvised music in