The use of music therapy in treating sexually abused children

Abstract

The article focuses on the use of analytical music therapy in treating sexually abused children. The first part contains information about the specifics of working with sexually abused children and the therapeutic framework. The second part gives an overview of the music therapy concept and three relevant aspects of trauma: (a) the destroying of instances of good relationships; (b) the sexualization of the relationship; and (c) the restriction of the ability to mentalize. The third part shows a case study of an eight-year-old girl who showed extreme conformance, loss of vitality and suppression of feelings after being sexually abused by her mother's partner. Each scene will be interpreted with the focus on interaction patterns and connected to a function of how music is used. The fourth and final part will summarize nine functions of music which are meaningful in treating sexually abused children.