[Psychotherapy and music-induced altered state of consciousness].

The author has a concept of illness which perceives it mainly as a loss of self-confidence, of acceptance and of being integrated as a part of a greater entirety. Therefore therapy has to offer support in order to allow the awareness of these values to grow. The main means to do this is the accompaniment of the patient into an altered state of consciousness. The author describes the use of musical trance as an induction to an altered state of consciousness, the place this method occupies within the field of music therapy, the main pillars of musical trance and their history, the scientific concepts and the methodological approach in various settings. Furthermore epistemological approaches are discussed, as well as the use of the method for general practitioners working psychotherapeutically and the actual state of research. Work with music therapy related Balint-Groups is outlined.