Musical validation in music therapy with trauma victims: a qualitative research study

Objective: Many studies have examined the relational needs of trauma victims in psychotherapy. However, this topic has received little attention in music therapy research. The current study is the first to focus on what music therapists working with trauma victims perceive as the clients’ main relational needs that
should be musically addressed to enhance the therapeutic process.
Method: A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 41 experienced music therapists working with trauma victims was conducted to identify themes in their perceptions of the main relational needs of their clients and how they address them musically.
Results: Three themes appeared concerning relational needs of trauma victims. The first is the need for recognition. Music was found to provide clients with a sense of recognition of both themselves as individuals and their unspeakable and repressed traumatic memories and feelings. The second theme is the
need for acceptance, which was also met through engagement in music, thus providing emotional containment. The third theme is the need for emotional witnessing through music, which was provided by musical interactions with the therapist, group members or community members.
Conclusions: The contribution of this study is in conceptualizing the term musical validation as a central relational need and in presenting musical interventions that were found by music therapists working with
trauma victims to enhance validation.