The aim of the thesis is to illuminate music therapy in Sweden by exploring participant’s experiences of Functionally Oriented Music Therapy (FMT), music therapy grounded on psychodynamic theories and Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). How can adult participants’ experiences of music therapy used as individual treatment, be described from phenomenological perspectives? Theoretical framework is the life-world perspective according to Merleau-Ponty (2005), an ethical perspective according to Ricœur (1992) and a perspective of time consciousness according to Husserl (1991). Two pairs of persons comprising one patient and one therapist from each orientation participated, totally 6 patients and 6 therapists. Each couple was documented during three sequential sessions which were videotaped and followed up by an interview. Totally the study included 18 videotaped sessions, 36 interviews, notes and literature. The analyses show music therapy sessions based on rituals that can be divided into three phases: an entering-phase, a current-phase and an exit-phase which can be considered to be predetermined and governed by the music therapy orientations.  The participants' experiences of the sessions are described as transcendence, based on the participants' imagination during which they dialectically communicate and interact. However, the therapeutic processes do not seem to be fulfilled unless the participants have the possibility of using verbal narratives. Music helps them though to organize their experiences in the present moment since it possesses a natural innate structure. The results are discussed in relation to theories in music therapy and Damasios neurological theory which includes body, emotion and consciousness (Damasio 2004, 2000). Implications for theory and practice are made and considerations and suggestions for further research are put forward.

The aim of the thesis is to illuminate music therapy in Sweden by exploring participant’s experiences of Functionally Oriented Music Therapy (FMT), music therapy grounded on psychodynamic theories and Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). How can adult participants’ experiences of music therapy used as individual treatment, be described from phenomenological perspectives? Theoretical framework is the life-world perspective according to Merleau-Ponty (2005), an ethical perspective according to Ricœur (1992) and a perspective of time consciousness according to Husserl (1991). Two pairs of persons comprising one patient and one therapist from each orientation participated, totally 6 patients and 6 therapists. Each couple was documented during three sequential sessions which were videotaped and followed up by an interview. Totally the study included 18 videotaped sessions, 36 interviews, notes and literature. The analyses show music therapy sessions based on rituals that can be divided into three phases: an entering-phase, a current-phase and an exit-phase which can be considered to be predetermined and governed by the music therapy orientations.  The participants' experiences of the sessions are described as transcendence, based on the participants' imagination during which they dialectically communicate and interact. However, the therapeutic processes do not seem to be fulfilled unless the participants have the possibility of using verbal narratives. Music helps them though to organize their experiences in the present moment since it possesses a natural innate structure. The results are discussed in relation to theories in music therapy and Damasios neurological theory which includes body, emotion and consciousness (Damasio 2004, 2000). Implications for theory and practice are made and considerations and suggestions for further research are put forward.