Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2013

Department

Faculty of Music

Abstract

This paper presents the case study of a 38-year-old female, "Joy," and her Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) process. Joy was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in 2008 to pursue further studies along with her husband. Joy is a music educator who was drawn to GIM to explore issues with her parents, husband, anxiety and stress in order to lead her to improved well-being and healing. This paper provides the relevant background information on GIM, and several important topics in Joy's therapeutic process, including: gender issues being raised in Hong Kong, effects of parental gambling on child development, identity development, and performance anxiety. Joy desired focus and longed for her inner voice to be freed. Joy also wanted to feel strong enough to assert her wishes as an Asian female in order to present herself authentically. GIM sessions provided Joy with the space to identify and explore her concerns, which led her to improved well-being and healing. GIM is a music psychotherapy intervention that is particularly well suited to work with music educators and musicians, due to their experience and connections to music.

Comments

This article was originally published in Canadian Music Educator, 55(1), 19-24. © 2013 by Amy Clements-Cortés. Reproduced with kind permission from the Canadian Music Educators' Association.

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