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The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine

International Society for Arts and Medicine (ISfAM)
18.-20.06.2026
Berlin

Meeting Abstract

Creating safe spaces in music therapy

Mona Dittrich - SRH Krankenhaus Sigmaringen
Tina Mallon - University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of General Practice and Primary Care

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Background: Providing health care services for displaced persons places a challenge for health care providers. Culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches are necessary in order to focus on individual needs. Music therapy can provide an early therapeutic approach to support those clients.

Objectives: To illustrate the means of music therapy, particularly in focusing on creating safe spaces within the music therapeutic setting, touch on complex topics such as trans- and intercultural aspects, and traumatic experiences as well as its limitations.

Methods: Theoretical background and practical insights through music therapy case examples will illustrate the potentials and possibilities creative arts can provide for the treatment of clients suffering from trauma and trauma-related disorders.

Results: In applying a culturally and trauma-sensitive approach music therapy can offer multiple ways of creative expression to support emotion regulation, self-regulation, self-efficacy and healing.

Conclusion: Implementing music therapy for displaced persons should be advocated in a broader context as it is a valid therapeutic approach which incorporated a culturally sensitive, low-threshold treatment option for people experiencing trauma-related disorders.