Embodied Music Listening

The chapter presents the receptive music therapy model "Guided Imagery of Music (GIM)" as an embodied way of music listening with documented effects on a number of physiological and psychological symptoms and problems. Relaxation, guiding and (classical) music stimulates and supports the work of all inner sensory modalities in an organic and integrative way that enables and facilitates embodied psychotherapeutic change. GIM is used in several formats, with many different clinical target groups, and it can also be used for personal development. The chapter briefly presents the clinical method, underlying theories, selected research/evidence and illustrative clinical vignettes. Based on a study of cancer survivors’ GIM therapy, grounded theories of the therapeutic process and music’s role in the process are presented and discussed.