US-trained music therapists from East Asian countries found personal therapy during training helpful but when cultural disconnects occur these can be problematic: A qualitative phenomenological study

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the personal therapy experiences of US-trained music therapists who originated from East Asia. The cultural influences of various countries in East Asia and the US were also explored. Results from individual interviews of eight US-trained music therapists who originated from Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea were divided into three themes, eight categories, and two subcategories: (a) cultural stigmas attached to therapy; (b) experiences during the course of personal therapy (the therapy space as safe and personal, contrasting reactions to the beginning stages of therapy, the caring and strong presence of the student therapists' therapists, and difficulties in personal therapy-confusion, awkwardness, and feeling pushed); and (c) the influence of therapy on personal and professional development (healing experiences through the acceptance of reality, clinical influences-becoming more mature as clinicians-and academic influences-being able to focus on academic work, and transformative experience in music). Study findings suggest that undergoing personal therapy during training was beneficial for participants' personal, professional, and musical development. Participants also indicated that their native cultural perspectives should be examined to lessen cultural rifts and optimize the benefits of incorporating concepts of psychotherapy from North America and Europe.