By Davisseau Maureen, Josse Hélène and Papin Floriane
Nowadays, research in the field of psychology makes it possible to bring new forms of therapeutic follow-up. In this article we will focus on therapeutic mediation, then providing a detailed description of it and the interest it can have for patients.
The concept of mediation aims to connect two edges, more precisely two distinct objects that are cleaved or separated. These mediations refer to the use of a mediating object, and it was Milner, in 1950, who introduced the concept of a malleable medium to designate this object, which was not therapeutic in itself, but which, through the materialization of the framework set by the therapist, and the transferential dimension, would establish a link between art and analytical work (Roussillon, 1991). This malleable medium must be able to meet several properties according to Roussillon (2016). Indeed, this author underlines the importance of the sensitivity of the latter, of being able to receive what the individual puts into it, and of being sensitive to the possible nuances of this transfer. Moreover, it must be attainable, i.e. the subject must be able to grasp it in order to manipulate it (Roussillon, 2016). The malleable medium must also have an empathetic aspect in order to sufficiently reflect the person’s emotion, and to be able to have what is in him recognized (Roussillon, 2016) by what Winnicott calls the “mirror function” (Winnicott, 1975). These different processes described by the authors above make it possible to modulate the possible functioning of therapeutic mediation, and their use can be effective with both children and adults (Roussillon, 2016).
Sound is a sensory element that has been present since the earliest moments of an individual’s development, even before language acquisition, and it is the individual who takes on the role of symbolizing emotions during this period (Schneider, 2018). This sound sphere will then be formed from the intrauterine life, and will concern both the external noises, and the internal noises of its mother and its own body (Proust, 2016). Through a resonance effect, this vibrating sphere will allow the fetus to establish a first form of physical space in a body envelope (Proust, 2016). Lecourt uses these words from 2003 to show that sound can be experienced as intrusive, invasive, because it is a sensory modality that has no limits, and that we cannot control (Lecourt, 2011). She specifies (2011) that this bodily overflow of the sound sphere, lacks a physical container, and music makes it possible to establish this containing effect, through temporal (rhythm, pulsation, etc.), and spatial (harmony, sound simultaneity, etc.) control. This control of sound allows it to be used as an investigative element of the psyche and to form what is called music therapy (Lecourt, 2011). Viret, inspired by Lecourt’s comments in 2005, describes music therapy as “a form of psychotherapy and rehabilitation, of psychomusical assistance, according to the frameworks considered, which use sound and music as a means of expression, communication, structuring and analysis of the relationship. (Viret, 2007, p. 95).
Music therapy would therefore allow the sound sphere to take on a role as a guiding principle in the coherence of the subject’s identity, producing an effect of contention through music, but also a mediator role offering the subject a psychic space, allowing psychological reworking, and facilitated access to affect (Proust, 2016).
Bibliography :
Lecourt, E., (2011). « Le son et la musique : intrusion ou médiation ? », in Anne Brun, Les médiations thérapeutiques, ERES « Le Carnet psy », pp. 117-133. DOI 10.3917/eres.brun.2011.01.0117
Proust, K. (2016). « La voix (parlée et chantée) en psychothérapie : effet de contenance et mobilisation de l’archaïque », Cliniques (N° 12), pp. 22-41.
Roussillon, R. (1991). Un paradoxe de la représentation : le médium malléable et la pulsion d’emprise. In R. Roussillon, Paradoxe et situations limites de la psychanalyse (pp. 130-146). Paris cedex 14, France: Presses Universitaires de France.
Roussillon, R. (2016). “Aspect métapsychologiques des médiations thérapeutiques”, Cliniques (n°12), pp. 230-245
Viret, J. (2007). Musicothérapie. Grez-sur-Loing, France : Editions Pardès
Winnicott, D.W. (1975). Le rôle de miroir de la mère et de la famille dans le développement de l’enfant In Jeu et Réalité. L’espace potentiel (pp. 153-162). Paris : Gallimard.