• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-45
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to offer fundamental data to manage countertransference, and to research into countertransference management ability by aspects in therapists' experiences in countertransference and their professional characters. For the paper, a survey was conducted on 62 music therapists who provided professional music therapy after finishing graduate school of music therapy through clinical practice and internship, and the result was drawn as follows. Around 84% of participants answered that they had been in trouble by countertransference in the analysis of a questionnaire regarding experience in countertransference. 48% among them first experienced countertransference during the practice in graduate school. 27% and 14% respectively answered that they experienced it within 3 years after graduation and during internship. Also, the result showed that therapists usually had difficulty with adults with mental disease, and the second most difficult clients were children with developmental disabilities. 76% of participants who had difficulty by countertransference answered that they were able to manage it to some degree, and almost all who answered thought that research into countertransference and management were necessary. About the question as to how to manage countertransference, 54% suggested self-analysis and self-therapy. 33% answered that countertransference should be treated through supervision. Finally, 13% of participants answered that it should be handled in graduate school. In this paper, which empirically examined therapists' experience in countertransference and countertransference management ability had meaning in providing essential basic data for music therapists to apply and manage countertransference for therapists themselves, as well as for clients.