**3.1 Step 1: An intrinsic case with unique characteristics**

Rarely, an entire fairy tale is spontaneously reported and outlined within a single GIM or other Jungian oriented clinical session. Therefore, this selected case demonstrates intrinsic value in depicting an entire fairy tale in a single session, at the same time demonstrating unique characteristics in the way that the client uses and adapts the emergent Snow White fairytale to fit her needs, thereby providing further information about her current experience related to matrescence and the change to motherhood.

Clinical details about this case are as follows. This client had previously undergone an eight-session series of GIM during pregnancy. At this time, her therapeutic process focused on issues related to adaptation to pregnancy in terms of her body, her relationship with her husband, the resolution of prior ectopic pregnancy, and bonding with

*Reframing Motherhood within a Jungian Approach to Snow White: A Research Case Study Using… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109443*

the male fetus baby in utero [100]. This client now had a new (female) baby who was five months old, her last GIM sessions having taken place approximately six months previously. During this break, she had undertaken no other therapy-oriented session.

Since there had been a long break since her previous GIM sessions, and since there had been such tumultuous changes in her life and lifestyle in the intervening period in view of motherhood, this current session was viewed by the therapist as being novel in terms of a new beginning, expecting that the client would now be at a different point in her therapeutic process after the birth of her child. She reported that her baby had been a somewhat demanding child, that she was still breastfeeding her, and that she herself was feeling tired.

This current GIM session proceeded according to standard processes and applications [58, 101]. Following initial therapeutic discussion, routine decision-making took place with regard to the specific music program to be used. In this case, the music used was the program entitled "Relationships" [102–104]. The "Relationships" program comprises music of three different composers and is designed to promote inner interactions within the imagery process. For example, this GIM program begins with the Concertstuck for Harp, by Pierne which has flowing melodic lines, broad tessitura, and varied instrumentation which includes substantial use of stringed instruments. It carries a sense of predictability, despite a full range of dynamics and a significant climax. Instruments are used in opposing groups, with a sense of "asking and answering questions." This GIM program allows for many possibilities to emerge and for the client to relate to them using their imagery processes, in line with Bonny's multilayered principles in the use of music for GIM [103]. This program was extended by adding music to complete the client's imagery experience, which was the "Pavane" by Faure, known to be a suitable music style that could be added to the relationships program. The full listing of all the music appears in **Table 1**.

## **3.2 Step 2. An identified pattern from clinical material**

After a few transitional images to begin the imagery process, the client immediately reported a confronting spontaneous image of a witch, a typically fairy tale figure, and later little dwarves/elves. In fact, most of the elements of the Snow White tale began to emerge within her reported imagery of her GIM session. As is often the case in imagebased material, the client used words interchangeably, such as witch and stepmother. Post session reflective practice brought to light the full extent of this unfolding of the fairy tale, with similarities and differences to the traditional tale providing interesting and informative clinical information. The identified pattern of the fairy tale in


this session was noted to hold intrinsic value and unique characteristics. This unique session was subsequently written up into a clinical case report based on knowledge and experience at the time and published following peer review. Interest in this case report has continued over time, as noted by citations and research impact metrics.

Extending insights from the clinical case report [1], the current paper applies a systematic framework informed by current literature to delve further into the cultural artifact of this fairy story. Johnston's eight key elements of the Snow White fairy tale are chosen as the pattern against which to review the client's fairy tale material [68]. These eight key elements are: (1) Snow White the character, (2) the Evil Queen, (3) the Mirror, (4) the Huntsman, (5) the Seven Dwarfs, (6) the Apple, (7) the Revival, and (8) Happily Ever After [68]. All of these elements were found to occur in this GIM session and this pattern thereby sheds light on the clinical material of this client's reported imagery.

## **3.3 Step 3. Pattern matching in the context of client data**

Employing a systematic and comprehensive approach, a methodological step was needed to identify changes and amendments to the traditional Snow White fairy tale. In order to do so, the client's narrative text from the session transcript was broken into meaning units throughout the entire transcript via an iterative process. This was then compared to the pattern of the generic Snow White fairy tale [68] as has already been identified in Step 2 within the current methodological framework. The client's narrative fell naturally into 15 parts. These include the eight elements of the fairy tale, some with a Reprise, and some additional variations called Caveats in this current chapter (see **Table 2**).
