Transitions from Clinical Experiences to Clinical Questions and then Research: Songwriting with Bereaved Pre-adolescent Children

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the author’s personal transition from her clinical experiences working with bereaved children and adolescents, to clinical questions that arose during this time, and then to her current phase whereby she has commenced research to examine songwriting with bereaved children. This article includes relevant literature that discusses bereavement in childhood, songwriting in music therapy, and music therapy support for bereaved children and adolescents. A description about the author’s current research, that integrates the three areas highlighted in the literature, is also discussed.