Navigating Authenticity: A Music Therapy Student’s Experience Working with Adolescents in a Mental Health Context

A lack of literature surrounding adolescents and authenticity was found in the music therapy literature within the confines of the researcher’s search. A critical autoethnography was used to provide depth to a thematic analysis.

The data sources used were session notes from 45 sessions with one individual, a reflexive journal that the researcher kept, and existing literature. Through this process three core themes emerged: 1) Developing the Therapeutic Self, 2) Authenticity in Motion, and 3) The Significance of Trust, each with its own sub-themes. These themes highlight the challenges that occurred on placement, the changeable nature of authenticity, and how trust contributed to a successful therapeutic relationship and outcomes.