Open Access-Heroines’ Journey- Emerging Story by Refugee Women during Group Analytic Music Therapy
Author(s) -
Heidi Ahonen,
Antonietta Mongillo Desideri
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
voices
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1504-1611
DOI - 10.15845/voices.v14i1.686
Subject(s) - feeling , music therapy , narrative , active listening , psychology , loneliness , refugee , improvisation , psychotherapist , musical , group psychotherapy , focus group , clinical psychology , social psychology , visual arts , sociology , art , history , literature , archaeology , anthropology
There has been some evidence of the benefits of participating in group analytic music therapy with traumatized people. This pilot clinical project investigates the impact of a combination of narrative therapy and group analytic music therapy on refugee/newcomer women in Canada. An ongoing therapy group met for a period of 8 sessions, to share stories and feelings of past experiences and of resettlement. The focus of this group was emotional expression (verbal and musical). Musical listening, improvisation, art, writing, clay-work, and relaxation techniques were used. Several consistent themes re-emerged, including feelings around loneliness, fear guilt, and loss.The analysis of the therapy process showed many commonalities among these women and the process they were going through to deal with their feelings.