A Narrative Approach to Songwriting in a Pediatric Medical Setting: Understanding Caregivers’ Lived Experience through Development of a Method

Author

Izabella LidrbauchFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-21-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Dr. Rebecca Zarate

Abstract

This exploratory Capstone project focused on understanding caregivers’ lived experience through a narrative-informed songwriting approach. Previous literature has explored the use of narrative therapy and songwriting with caregivers, but little research has focused on a narrative informed approach to songwriting with caregivers of children in a pediatric hospital. This four phase songwriting intervention was carried out over the course of four sessions with two caregivers (a mother and father) of one of the patients on the medical units at a Children’s Hospital in the metro Boston area. Data collection and analysis followed a qualitative iterative arts-based procedure that included writing down the narrative of each session as well as the researcher’s own self-reflection through violin improvisation. Four main themes were lifted from the self-reflections, including: Everything at once/Overwhelm; A moment of calm; Music as containing/supportive; and Connection through music. The results indicate that providing a space for caregivers to process their narratives through music can support the caregivers’ own reflection and understanding of life events, and simultaneously strengthen the therapeutic relationship.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Lidrbauch, Izabella, "A Narrative Approach to Songwriting in a Pediatric Medical Setting: Understanding Caregivers’ Lived Experience through Development of a Method" (2022). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 524.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/524