How Mental Health Consumers Report Experiences of Pleasure in Music Therapy

This meta-synthesis investigates the concept of pleasure in music therapy, responding to Stige's (2006) call for a deeper understanding of its role in therapeutic processes. Drawing on qualitative research studies published between 2010 and 2024, the study analyzes consumer perspectives on pleasurable experiences in music therapy within adult mental health and adolescent mental wellbeing contexts. The research employs an interpretivist approach, utilizing pleasure as a sensitizing concept to guide data extraction and analysis. The methodology involves a systematic review of 26 qualitative studies, focusing on participant interviews that reference pleasurable aspects of music therapy. Data analysis incorporates elements of discourse analysis, thematic categorization, and arts-based interpretation. Findings reveal multifaceted dimensions of pleasure in music therapy, including sensorial experiences, emotional activation, and shared affective states. The analysis distinguishes between experiences of individuals with severe mental illness and those in recovery or with milder psychological distress. The study also explores differences in pleasure descriptions between group and individual therapy settings.