Vocal Psychotherapy with traumatised Greek clients

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe my personal music therapy journey and my work in Greece with two individuals with psychological trauma, following Austin’s Vocal Psychotherapy model. Vignettes from sessions with two female clients who have experienced trauma are presented and examined through the lens of the theoretical foundations and the approach of this voice-based model of music psychotherapy. I examine trauma, its origins and its connection to the Ancient Greek drama, and how this is reflected in the contemporary Greek family. Trauma symptomatology is then analysed and explored, as well as its implication for dealing with the obstacles that inhibit growth and change. Using two case studies as examples, methods from Vocal Psychotherapy such as “Vocal Holding” and “Free Associative Singing” are presented. The descriptions illustrate the procedure through which the clients gain access to their feelings, memories and sensations so that unconscious material can become conscious and the processing of obstacles can lead to individuation allowing space for their true voice to emerge. Further analysis is done based on countertransference and the ways that I integrate my Greek origins within the Vocal Psychotherapy model.