ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This self-reflective qualitative case study investigates countertransference awareness and its impact on clinical practice during improvisational music therapy for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD). Data from 18 session videos, indexing records, and therapist’s journals were analyzed via thematic analysis across ‘description-interpretation-thematization’ stages. Focusing on key turning points (Sessions 4, 8–10, 16–18), the study found that: first, the researcher initially experienced typical countertransference reactions such as helplessness, urgency, and a desire for control, using music as a defensive mechanism. Second, reflection and supervision prompted a paradigm shift from a “problem-centered” to a “strength-centered” approach, fostering an attitude of “waiting” and “acceptance”. Third, this internal transformation resulted in a receptive musical style attuned to the child’s rhythm, which elicited voluntary participation and a qualitative expansion of interaction. The study suggests that countertransference awareness is a creative resource that deepens clinical insight and authenticity. The process of trusting the child's inherent potential demonstrates the vital link between a therapist’s existential growth and professional development. This case holds academic and practical significance as it identifies the therapist's reflective experience as a key mechanism determining the quality of therapy and confirms the importance of self-reflection in clinical settings.

키워드