COME_IN: A qualitative framework for content, meanings and intersubjectivity in free dyadic improvisations

Introduction A growing body of research reflects the interest in meaningful moments in music therapeutic treatment and the client--therapist relationship; however, little insight has been given into the client's subjective experience and the interweaving processes between a therapist and a client. Central to this initial research is the question of how dialogue as a substantial relational quality emerges and intersubjectively manifests in free, dyadic improvisations, as is typical in humanistic and/or psychodynamic approaches to music therapy practice. This paper presents the qualitative part of a mixed-methods, multi-phase feasibility study intended to develop a framework for non-clinical and clinical research. Method In a non-clinical setting with adult participants (n=9) and trained music therapists (n=8), a total of 17 free dyadic piano improvisations were recorded and verbally reflected on in semi-structured debriefing interviews. These focused on moments or time periods where one or both improvising people had the feeling that something pivotal happened between them. A qualitative summarizing content analysis of the transcribed interviews, including a selective coding process, was conducted to investigate both perspectives. Results As a two-part category system, the framework for content, meanings and intersubjectivity (COME_IN) covers (a) meanings, i.e. different intra- and interpersonal experiences indicating developments and states of relationship in dyadic improvisations, and (b) intersubjectivity, operationalized in temporal and/or content-related overlaps of subjective experiences. Discussion Showing manifold patterns of how meaning and intersubjectivity nonverbally arise between people, the framework provides a solid base for further mixed-methods analyses. Clinical studies are needed to test and refine the categories.