An Intersubjective Approach to Music Therapy: Identification and Processing of Musical Countertransference in a Music Psychotherapeutic Context

The role of the music therapist is to be there for and with the client in and outside the music. This article describes how the music therapist in the musical interaction can be there for and with the client at the same time as he/she is there for him/herself. This is demonstrated through clinical examples that focus on defining, identification and effective work with musical countertransference as a tool of insight and assessment. The clinical settings include private practice, postgraduate training, internship training, and a short and long term rehabilitation facility. My hope is to reach graduate and postgraduate music therapy clinicians and educators. The educational basis for my work is a Master's degree in Music Therapy, a training in Analytical Music Therapy by the founder of AMT Mary Priestley, a Master's degree in Music Education, and 20 years of providing Analytical Music Therapy supervision.