Table 4 Course of main subject categories and sub-categories during the first four sessions

Condition/treatment/further care

22 (54 %)

17 (41 %)

19 (56 %)

8 (40 %)

 Current condition

11 (50 %)

8 (47 %)

9 (47 %)

4 (44 %)

 Course of disease and treatment

7 (32 %)

6 (35 %)

5 (26 %)

2 (23 %)

 Further care following SPCU

4 (18 %)

3 (18 %)

5 (26 %)

2 (23 %)

Coping with palliative situation

24 (59 %)

23 (56 %)

19 (56 %)

13 (65 %)

 Self-reflection

6 (24 %)

7 (30 %)

7 (37 %)

2 (15 %)

 Personal resources

5 (20 %)

5 (22 %)

6 (32 %)

1 (8 %)

 Aims/plans/wishes for things to come

7 (28 %)

4 (17 %)

1 (5 %)

2 (15 %)

 Coping strategies

4 (16 %)

3 (13 %)

2 (11 %)

3 (23 %)

 Recognition and dealing with needs

2 (8 %)

–

1 (5 %)

2 (15 %)

 Personal and other’s boundaries

–

2 (9 %)

2 (11 %)

3 (23 %)

 Life review

1 (4 %)

2 (9 %)

–

–

Emotions and feelings

26 (63 %)

22 (54 %)

12 (35 %)

6 (30 %)

 Grief and loss

8 (31 %)

6 (27 %)

4 (33 %)

4 (67 %)

 Anger and distress

1 (4 %)

4 (18 %)

3 (25 %)

–

 Anxiety

4 (15 %)

2 (9 %)

3 (25 %)

–

 Hope

7 (27 %)

2 (9 %)

–

1 (17 %)

 Ambivalent feelings

3 (12 %)

2 (9 %)

–

–

 Feeling overwhelmed

1 (4 %)

2 (9 %)

–

–

 Isolation

1 (4 %)

1 (4 %)

2 (27 %)

–

 Feeling of insecurity

1 (4 %)

2 (9 %)

–

–

 Sense of confidence

–

1 (4 %)

–

1 (17 %)

Music and music therapy

27 (66 %)

10 (24 %)

8 (24 %)

9 (45 %)

 Musical anamnesis/history

20 (74 %)

5 (55 %)

2 (25 %)

5 (56 %)

 Experiences with music therapy

3 (10 %)

1 (11 %)

3 (38 %)

3 (33 %)

 Aims/wishes related to music therapy

2 (7 %)

3 (33 %)

3 (38 %)

1 (11 %)

 Questions about music therapy techniques and instruments

2 (7 %)

1 (11 %)

–

–

Biography

16 (39 %)

9 (22 %)

8 (24 %)

5 (25 %)

 Profession and hobbies

9 (56 %)

4 (44 %)

2 (25 %)

2 (40 %)

 Positive life events

2 (13 %)

3 (33 %)

2 (25 %)

2 (40 %)

 Distressing life events

3 (18 %)

2 (22 %)

2 (25 %)

–

 Family issues

2 (13 %)

–

1 (13 %)

–

 Childhood experiences

–

–

1 (13 %)

1 (20 %)

Social environment

18 (44 %)

5 (12 %)

3 (8 %)

6 (30 %)

 Family

10 (56 %)

2 (40 %)

2 (67 %)

2 (33 %)

 Partnership, marriage

–

1 (20 %)

1 (33 %)

2 (33 %)

 Social context and integration

8 (44 %)

2 (40 %)

–

2 (33 %)

Death/dying/spiritual topics

11 (27 %)

7 (17 %)

3 (8 %)

1 (5 %)

 Death and dying

5 (45 %)

3 (43 %)

–

–

 Spiritual and existential aspects

6 (55 %)

2 (29 %)

3 (100 %)

–

 Farewell

–

2 (29 %)

–

1 (100 %)