Exploring client-therapist relationships through joint interviews

Abstract

In the last few years, there has been an increase of literature on the use of interviews with two participants, otherwise known as joint interviews. Researchers who employ this methodology describe challenges and potential advantages inherent to this approach, distinguishing it from individual and group interviews. In this article, we present and discuss results from two studies on therapeutic relationships in music therapy that include joint interviews with clients and their music therapists. Combining the data from the two studies, we identify and reflect on how the method of data collection shaped the interview situations and the findings that can be drawn from the empirical material. We found that the joint interview setting offered safety and support for the clients. Further, the joint interview setting allowed the music therapists and clients to address each other, build on each other's statements, and develop and negotiate shared understandings. Specifically, in joint interviews, as opposed to separate interviews, interactions within the dyad can be observed. This observation offers valuable information about the relationship within the dyad. The therapeutic relationship is key to therapeutic effect, but the client and therapist have been found to perceive their relationship differently. It is, therefore, essential to include both client and therapist when researching their relationship, and we argue that the joint interview holds a specific potential of producing rich data.