2026-10-14T07:46:29Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34021287 2026-09-29T04:55:15Z category_33764 portal_771 item_type_8 month_year_09_2026

Navigating Authenticity: A Music Therapy Student’s Experience Working with Adolescents in a Mental Health Context Elina Chester (25135287) Music therapy music therapy mental health adolescence School: New Zealand School of Music 420103 Music therapy Degree Discipline: Music Therapy Degree Name: Master of Music Therapy Degree Level: Masters <p><strong>This research explored a Music Therapy Student’s experience of authenticity while on placement with adolescents who were navigating mental health challenges. 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. An unexpected finding was the impact of premenstrual syndrome on the researcher’s work as a Music Therapy Student. This research highlights the importance of context, development of professional identity, and reflexivity when working with adolescents.</strong></p> 2026-09-29T00:00:00Z Text Thesis 10.26686/c0kw-wjpg https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Navigating_Authenticity_A_Music_Therapy_Student_s_Experience_Working_with_Adolescents_in_a_Mental_Health_Context/34021287 Author Retains Copyright