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Revista Brasileira de Musicoterapia ISSN 2316-994x Brazilian Journal of Music Therapy ISSN 2764-5541

Theoretical studies/essays

ANO XXVIII - NÚMERO 42 - 2026

The Timbre as a Mediating Resource in Music Therapy with Autistic Individuals: Clinical and Theoretical Contributions

DOI
https://doi.org/10.51914/brjmt.42.2026.500
Submitted
February 16, 2026
Published
17-08-2026

Abstract

Music therapy, as a clinical practice grounded in sound experience, offers resources that go beyond the limits of verbal language, fostering singular modes of expression and communication. Among these resources, timbre stands out for its expressive potential and its articulation with the subject’s subjective constitution. This article aims to reflect on timbre as a mediating resource in music therapy with autistic individuals, considering its influence on the construction of individual musicality, the relationship with the body, and the expansion of communicative possibilities. This is a qualitative, theoretical-clinical study grounded in references from music therapy and psychoanalysis, articulated with reflective analysis of clinical experiences carried out between 2021 and 2025. The discussion mobilizes concepts such as sound-musical identity, clinical musicality, voice, silence, and lalangue, understanding timbre as a clinical operator capable of promoting subjective shifts. The results indicate that the conscious use of timbre contributes to strengthening the therapeutic bond and legitimizing nonverbal forms of expression. It is concluded that timbre constitutes a relevant clinical resource in music therapy with autistic individuals, supporting ethical interventions that respect singularity.

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