How song-writing contributes to the treatment of trauma in a child exposed to gender violence against her mother

lucas arranz, miriam

4. term

Music Therapy, Master

2013

2013-05-30

In this work the benefits of using song writing are explored, concretely in relation to post- traumatic stress symptoms in a child who has been exposed to gender violence against her mother. According to the literature, song writing is supposed to facilitate expressing emotions and thoughts and reducing symptomatology of stress (Baker, Wigram, Stott & McFerran, 2008). In this case, music therapy is included in a more extensive program of emotional intelligence and song writing is used for the treatment of traumatic memories. So, this work will be focused on analyzing how song-writing can help to the treatment of trauma improving emotional aims. Physiological symptoms, aggressive conducts and avoidance and resistances to talk about traumatic situations are reduced at the end of the intervention. However, there are some limitations before concluding that results are due exclusively to music therapy. On the other hand, a new line for future studies has appeared. Using song writing, traumatic experiences never before mentioned have been verbalized without showing any symptom of anxiety. So, song writing could help to detect traumatic scenes and reduce the initial anxiety when an episode related to trauma is referred for the first time.

Music-therapy, Song-writing, Trauma, Emotional-Intelligence, Gender-violence, Children exposed to violence

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