Benefits and challenges of implementing a trauma-informed approach within pediatric music therapy: An interpretive phenomenological study

The purpose of this study was to understand how music therapists navigate the benefits and challenges of implementing a trauma-informed approach within pediatric inpatient hospitals. Four music therapists participated in this study through semi-structured interviews. Utilizing an adaptation of Smith et al.’s (2022) protocol for interpretive phenomenological analysis, several themes emerged: defining elements of trauma-informed care, the benefits and challenges of implementing a trauma-informed approach within a pediatric inpatient medical setting, strategies for overcoming these challenges, and the need for more music therapy specific training and education on trauma-informed care. Several subthemes were identified for each theme. Subtheme topics included: safety, recognizing the impact of trauma, patient autonomy, the inclusion of family, positive traits and actions to address challenges, and the importance of trauma-informed care. These findings underscore the necessity for further research on the subject of trauma-informed music therapy.