Towards musical individuation: Korean female music therapists’ experiences in the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy certification training

Eight Korean female therapists’ experiences in the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy training program were investigated using consensual qualitative research. Seven domains and 27 categories specifying the participants’ experiences were generated from data analysis. The categories were then labeled as general (7–8 cases), typical (5–6), variant (2–4), and rare (1) based on the frequency found among cases. The results of the study showed that the participants’ general motivation to pursue the training was not only to become competent in clinical improvisation, but also to obtain the core philosophy of the Nordoff-Robbins approach, which would allow them to use their music as therapy. During the training, the Korean female therapists experienced distress as they encountered the limits of their creative freedom, shame, evaluation anxiety, and cultural differences. However, their clinical musicianship was continuously developed through effective supervision and trusting supervisory relationships. The Korean female therapists’ paths of development of clinical musicianship during the training were indeed their journeys towards musical individuation.

Research highlights▶ The participants’ general motivation to pursue the training was to become competent in clinical improvisation and obtain the core philosophy of the Nordoff-Robbins approach. ▶ The participants experienced distress as they encountered the limits of their creative freedom, shame, evaluation anxiety, and cultural differences during the training. ▶ All participants experienced the moments of self-actualization in which their Music Child was fully activated. ▶ The participants’ clinical musicianship was continuously developed through effective supervision and trusting supervisory relationships. ▶ The participants’ paths of development during the training were indeed their journeys towards musical individuation.