Exploring musical dynamics in therapeutic interplay with children: A multilayered method of microanalysis

Abstract

This article describes the development of a research procedure including a musical framework, to explore, describe and illuminate intersubjective exchanges in child psychotherapy. Applying a qualitative explorative approach, musical parameters were studied and analysed within an intersubjective framework, in selected samples of emotion regulation with children in time-limited intersubjective psychotherapy (TIB). The resulting multi-layered microanalytic method is illustrated through one example and discussed in light of the research questions. Through exploring musical parameters from second to second as focal points within a multi-layered analysis, such parameters seemed to embody the child´s feelings and intentions as well as organize intersubjective exchanges. The concept of musical dynamics is suggested as a description of lived relationship experiences over time.

Parents’ Experiences of Change in Developmental and Transactional Processes After Time-Limited Intersubjective Child Psychotherapy – A Qualitative Study

“…Higher affect integration contributes to supportive interactions within interpersonal relationships and higher intra-personal clarity in reference to internal and external events and is highly important for development ( Monsen and Monsen, 1999 ; Solbakken et al, 2011a ). The current results mirror earlier results ( Johns, 2018 ; Fiskum et al, in review 1 ) showing higher affect integration after therapy when interviewing children from the main study with the affect consciousness interview ( Monsen et al, 2013 ; Taarvig et al, 2015 ). That the described changes in this study were particularly salient for anger and anxiety is also consistent with earlier results showing that integration of these affects can be especially challenging in internalizing disorders ( Taarvig et al, 2016 ; Fiskum et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Most importantly, the relational space in the child’s therapy sessions constitutes a vast “potential space” ( Winnicott, 1991 ), offering the child new, corrective experiences of sensitive attunement, intersubjectivity, and relational synchrony. This potential space is centered on the child, with the therapist noticing and responding to micromomentary shifts in the child’s attention, affective expressions, or behavioral impulses, always trying to follow closely along and repairing any ruptures in the connection ( Johns, 2018 ). Together the (often) messy experiences of “hit and miss and repair” provide the child vital experiences of not only being an effective agent that can set and explore an agenda, but also that communication and relationships that break down can be repaired, installing safety to explore and venture beyond the already known ( Beeghly and Tronick, 2011 ).…”

“…Whereas the parental work emphasizes reciprocal dialogue and mentalizing capacity, therapy sessions with the child include nonverbal play and communication emerging from the child’s unique perspective. Adjusting to micro-processes in the here and now in sessions provides new intersubjective experiences for the child that may change previous implicit negative relational patterns or expectations of negative transactions or failures in intersubjectivity ( Johns, 2018 ).…”

Diminuendo al bottom—Clarifying the semantics of music notation by re-modeling

“…Most musicological studies that deal with the phenomenon of music dynamics can be roughly divided into (a) empirical and (b) historical-hermeneutic oriented research. In the empirical field the focus is often on the relation of perceived loudness and acoustical correlates [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]; music dynamics from a neurological [10], therapeutical [11], or psychological [12] [13] [14] [15] point of view or music dynamics as a feature in music information retrieval [16] [17].…”