This program is based on the specific method and techniques of receptive music therapy developed by Dr. Christoph Schwabe, emphasising actively listening to music instead of actively making music. The main aim of Regulative Music Therapy is to broaden and enrich the individuals’ perception skills and abilities, uncovering intrapsychic conflicts. Clients are exposed to pre-recorded pieces of music of various genres, then asked to reflect on their listening experiences. The music therapist focuses on the psychoanalytical processes within the individual while listening to music, and on how the individual deals with personal defence mechanisms.
Benefits:
- Enriching the Person’s Perception Skills & Abilities
- Uncovering & Handling Individual Defence Mechanisms
- Reducing Psychosomatic Symptoms
- Managing Anxiety
- Managing Pain
- Relaxation & Resolving of Physical Tensions
- Improving Quality of Life
This form of music therapy treatment is particularly suited for clients who predominantly have organ-specific illnesses, a deficit understanding of psychogenic insight, or extreme defence mechanisms (e.g. personality disorders, psychosomatic disorders, development of secondary psychiatric disorders).
The therapeutic process begins with identifying and acknowledging any perceptions that arise during the listening process (thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions to the music), thereby increasing the client’s perception abilities. Initially, clients learn not to judge the arising perceptions (i.e., positive, negative, distressing, unimportant) and not to manipulate inner perception processes. Over time, clients will develop the skills to switch among the different incoming perceptions (thoughts, feelings, awareness of, and physical reactions to the music) and discover how these processes are interrelated. When listening to music, clients are confronted with accepted and non-accepted perceptions, and they will learn how to deal with unwanted perceptions.
Typically, the sessions are offered weekly for 45 minutes and are led by one registered, highly trained music therapist, with a maximum of 8-10 participants. However, this program could also be offered as weekend workshops. It can be run for individuals as well as for groups, and its duration is based on the progress made by participants. Clients are given exercises to continue with the program at home.