Trusting the uncertainty: Music therapy with young people who have experienced attachment trauma

Abstract

Psychological trauma has recently received increased attention in music therapy, resulting in a dramatic increase in writings about this subject. However, the voice of clinicians and participants is not represented strongly in the literature. This paper is an attempt to begin to fill in this gap, providing examples from practice presented through narratives that illustrate music therapist’s perspective on the work, the clients’ expressions, and relationships. Following case vignettes taken from music therapy sessions, reflections on the work are integrated with relevant literature. The vignettes capture moments where key concepts of trauma-informed practice, such as trust and safety, are being challenged and questioned. They serve as a starting point for connecting theoretical knowledge with lived experiences and are intended to bring awareness to the reader in a way that is intuitive and emotional, as well as intellectual.