Subject: The Master Thesis examines a therapeutic approach to develop therapeutic alliance in Music Therapy with maltreated teenagers that have difficulties in entering into a therapeutic alliance. Specifically it is examined how a therapeutic approach, where the primary content in the beginning of the Music Therapy is musical activities, can facilitate development of therapeutic alliance with these clients. In the beginning of the Music Therapy the shared attention of the therapist and client is to play music; not therapy. Only the therapist has a therapeutic goal for the music therapy, but this is not explicated to the client in the beginning of the music therapy. Only it is explicated at a very general level, that it is a possibility to work therapeutically, but it is stressed that this is not a demand. The therapist seeks gradually to increase the client’s expression of feelings, musically as well as verbally, thereby getting the client to enter into a therapeutic alliance. This therapeutic approach is developed on the basis of the author’s clinical experiences in developing therapeutic alliance with a maltreated teenager in Music Therapy, as part of the author’s internship at the Music Therapy Education at Aalborg University. Method: In the first part of the Master Thesis the primary reasons that influence the difficulties of maltreated teenagers in entering into a therapeutic alliance are investigated. In continuation of this the primary therapeutic needs of this client group in relation to develop therapeutic alliance is investigated. In this matter psychotherapeutic research in the field is investigated, primary in relation to maltreated teenagers and teenagers in general. In the second part of the Master Thesis it is investigated, how the therapeutic approach in question can comply with the primary reasons that influence the difficulties of maltreated teenagers in entering into a therapeutic alliance, as well as facilitating development of the primary therapeutic needs in relation to development of therapeutic alliance. In this matter Music Therapy literature is investigated and the previously mentioned case from the author’s internship is investigated retrospectively. Results: It is found that primary reasons that influence the difficulties of maltreated teenagers in entering into a therapeutic alliance are normal developmental reasons, as well as reasons related to maltreatment. Primary normal developmental reasons are: · Lack of motivation for therapy · Disagreement of the goal and tasks of the therapy The primary reason related to maltreatment is: · Reduced trust in relationships It is found that in relation to maltreated teenagers who have motivation for music, the therapeutic approach in question can comply with the primary reasons that influence the difficulties of maltreated teenagers in entering into a therapeutic alliance, as well as facilitating the development of the primary therapeutic needs, in that: · The starting point of the Music Therapy is motivation for music; not motivation for treatment. It seems that motivation for treatment can develop gradually in the course of the therapy. · The starting point of the Music Therapy is a working relationship based on musical goals and tasks, and thus based on motivation for music. It seems that agreement on therapeutic goals and tasks can develop gradually in the course of the therapy. This development seems to occur simultaneously with development of motivation for treatment and trust in the therapist. · The starting point of the Music Therapy is a musical relationship. A starting point in a musical relationship can comply with reduced trust in the therapist and seems to facilitate development of trust in the therapist, in that: o Music as the ‘shared third’ medium can provide the experience of closeness and distance in the relationship with the therapist at the same time. o Music can provide experience of success and thereby increase self-confidence and self-worth. o Music is a well-known medium for teenagers.