By: Susanne Reinhold
Original title: Therapie der Depression – Musiktherapie. Der Merkurstab 2006; 420–22.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-18958-DE
English by A. R. Meuss, FCIL,MTA
This translation is published with the kind permission of the journal Der Merkurstab.
Der Merkurstab English issue, 2008

Abstract
A female patient aged 61 with a severe depressive disorder was given music therapy as part of the holistic anthroposophical approach to her treatment in the Filder Clinic’s Department of Psychosomatic Medicine/Psychotherapy, Art Therapy and Eurythmy Therapy. The diagnosis and treatment have been described in detail by Dr Quetz, the attending physician. The constellation of the levels of existence showed a situation where astral body and I were not adequately taking hold of the ether body and physical body. Treatment aim: on the one hand to stimulate the higher bodies to connect in the right way again, and on the other to make the living body prepared to accept the connection with the astral body. Music therapy was prescribed to strengthen the astral body, i.e. to stimulate psychic responsiveness and creative powers.

Keywords: Music therapy for depression, Stimulating psychic responsiveness, Music therapy diagnosis based on threefoldness in music and human being, Individual approach to treatment, Improvisation with surprising changes in tone material, Rediscovery of powers of imagination and creativity