Music Therapy, Trust and Child Welfare. In a Norwegian context

Abstract

This thesis theoretically explores the concept of trust in music therapy with adolescents in a Norwegian child welfare context. By reviewing literature describing the Norwegian music therapy practice in child welfare and music therapy with adolescents in general, exploring different perspectives on trust and relating these to an interdisciplinary framework of trust, suggestions are made concerning how trust is built in the music therapy context. Music therapy can be used as a different setting in which the adolescents can create knowledge structures containing experiences of trust associated with adults and peers related to child welfare. The supportive nature of musical objects and the multifaceted role of the music therapist can enable new ways of relating which open up for trust. By listening to the adolescent’s voice and emphasizing their participation in determining the institutional structures of the music therapy sessions, they can use shared goals and values as a resource that enables trust. Repeated collaborative interaction in music therapy can build trust relations that move towards affect- and identification-based trust. People from the adolescent’s network can be invited to participate in the music therapy, giving opportunities to re-negotiate poor trust relations and challenge relational power structures.