Perceptions of music therapists regarding their work with children living under continuous war threat: Experiential reframing of trauma through songs

Introduction: Research literature deals extensively with treatment of children who experience ongoing trauma. However, this topic has received scant attention in music therapy research. This study is the first to explore the therapeutic methods music therapists use with children living under continuous war threat and offers a subsequent emergent theory. Method: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 experienced music therapists working with Israeli children who experience continuous war threat in towns located near the Gaza Strip. Results: The findings yielded three themes regarding the therapeutic use of songs. The first theme focuses on creating a playful and joyful space that emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear by “playing with it”. The second theme, restoring a sense of control, focuses on the structured features of songs such as repetition of lyrics and melody in the chorus, use of rhyme, rhythm and fixed meter, all of which create an experience that provides a sense of control. The third theme, fostering resilience, relates to the ability of songs to represent the traumatic experience while conveying messages of strength and agency. Discussion: The songs enabled the children to re-experience the fear of the trauma within a playful, controlled and resilient space. As a result, the traumatic memory was reframed and perceived as less threatening. The theory emerging from this therapeutic process was termed experiential reframing of trauma through songs (ERTS).