Music Therapy with Children at the End of Life

Abstract

Abstract The death of a child is a difficult topic for most people to consider. This chapter offers an understanding of how music can contribute to the wellbeing of everyone involved. While the presence of music at the end of life can be a meaningful experience, there is a risk of unintended harm. Music therapists are specially trained to provide clinical music experiences designed to improve symptom burden, promote emotional expression, and foster communication and legacy creation at the end of life. A family-centered approach is utilized to reflect the multifaceted needs of both the child and family. The role of the music therapist is to provide simultaneous support to both child and family through co-created music experiences. Preliminary research into the efficacy of music therapy in pediatric end-of-life care yielded positive results, with further research recommended to more clearly define the scope of impact.