Musikkterapi med mennesker som har opplevd seksuelle overgrep: En kvalitativ studie av deltagererfaringer

Abstract

Despite a growing focus on the social problem sexual abuse, music therapy research and practices within this field are still under-represented in Norway. The purpose of this master’s thesis is to explore how people who have been sexually abused have experienced music therapy to get in touch with their own body, emotions at other people. This I would like to connect with contemporary trauma theories and traumawise care. I have performed two focus group interviews with a group of adults who have experienced sexual abuse, and who have subsequently participated in music therapy at a self-help center. The results of the analysis refer to four main categories: 1. music therapy as a social learning arena, 2. music therapy as emotional experience, 3. music therapy as physical experience and 4. music therapy as an aid to structuring. These categories have been examined by theoretical ideas that are relevant for practice, research, and further theoretical discussion. The findings suggest that music therapy can offer a safe context where you have the opportunity to explore and develop in social, emotional, physical and cognitive ways, and can be related to issues as traumawise care.