Relationship

The most significant experience I had in Bonn was the one that I mentioned in our last group discussion, the improvisation session with one client in particular. It was significant from beginning to end, and it was unexpectedly very moving for me while I observed the interaction between client and therapist. Not knowing the language, I relied on body language and facial expressions. I could see the care that my music therapist had for his clients, including in this session. I could see that the client was struggling that day. She did not seem uninterested in being there, but she did seem disconnected (which could have been due to medications). Regardless of what she may have been feeling, she chose to play the piano during the improvisation and it was beautiful. I felt what she was communicating through the music. I developed a sensitivity to the client, despite the fact that I did not know her, which was a different experience for me. She left the session with a slight smile on her face. I learned that I really valued the client-therapist relationship, and although I will be interning at a general hospital starting this fall, I hope to have the opportunity to develop this kind of relationship that with my clients.
I learned a lot about myself through that music therapy experience. During the session, I actually became a little emotionally overwhelmed thinking about this client's personal situation, along with the emotions of the music. Something that I hope to gain a better understanding of in the future is having empathy for a client, but not allowing the emotions of a situation to limit my ability to help. Overall, I saw how special the client-therapist relationship is to me and I hope to create those experiences with my future clients.