Grief

The potential benefits of music therapy for grieving persons are universal, as the inner musical predisposition is already present at birth. Music unites and connects people, independently of their origins and life experiences. Sounds are in direct link with the inner being, bypassing certain defense mechanisms, facilitating the expression of feelings and sharing between people affected by the loss of a loved one.

WHY music therapy can help

Music has the ultimate quality to touch in a unique way all human beings.  When used intentionally by a qualified music therapist, it can provide accompaniment and emotional support during the grieving  process.  Music therapy can offer a diversity of interventions that are particularly well adapted to reach out to grieving people, whatever their abilities and difficulties.

Music therapy can help this clientele to:

• Break the isolation resulting from the grieving
• Open channels of communication and sustain the emergence of the spoken words
• Facilitate access to emotions
• Facilitate relief and relaxation in a context of stress in face of the unknown
• Sustain the will to live by awakening positive energies and constructive feelings
• Lower anxiety and improve wellbeing
• Alleviate anguish by offering a safe and calming space for dialogue and sharing, providing points of reference and connection with others
• Express angriness and aggressivity
• Support self-discovery to help rebuild oneself
• Increase self-esteem through the discovery of new abilities and knowledge
• Take one’s place in a community, in the context of a music therapy group
   

HOW music therapy is used

Music therapy appeals to the sensitivity and the creativity of the human being.  It relies on non verbal communication and on components of music, such as rhythm, melody,  harmony and style, not forgetting the plenitude of the silence. 
Participation in group sessions is generally recommended, after initial contacts in the context of individual sessions.

These sessions can include:

• Welcoming musical offering creating a quiet atmosphere, conducive to introspection
• Exploration and discovery of various instruments to find out which ones offer the best channels for expressing oneself
• Listening to significant songs, followed by discussions
• Vocal and instrumental improvisations
• Songwriting and musical compositions
• Toning technique (vocal sounds without words)
• Self-expression by moving to selected or improvised music 
• Participation in drum circles to encourage listening and collaboration
• Creation of a tribute to the lost loved one (composition, interpretation, dance, collage, poetry, song, painting, photo album, recording, etc)

Research and references

At the Institute, we believe sharing knowledge is a fundamental part of our role.  Our Resources includes a growing list of research articles, presentations, videos and other documents, all dedicated to demonstrating how music therapy can positively impact this population and many others.

You will find these references, and more:

• Development of the Grief Process Scale through music therapy songwriting with bereaved adolescents
• Les bienfaits de la musicothérapie pour les endeuillés
• Music therapy for bereavement (video)

To discover those references and other available sources of information, click here: Resources & references about Grieving