Music and the Expressive Arts With Children Experiencing Trauma

Abstract

The creative and expressive use of music can be a powerful therapeutic intervention with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. In this article, a model for increasing self-awareness and self-understanding including materials, facilitation, and processing of musical activities in group format is presented. Creative activities such as the “feelings ensemble” and “feelings symphony” are illustrated in a case application with children transitioning back to school following a tornado. Implications for the role of expressive arts activities in the aftermath of a natural disaster are discussed.