The role of music therapy in the exploration and construction of identity by adolescent survivors of child sexual abuse : a multiple case study

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is prevalent in South Africa and, along with the stigma often endured following the abuse, can have lasting effects on sense of self. There have been few studies into how survivors of CSA construct identity or, specifically, how music therapy may afford such construction. Using a multiple case study design, this research investigated how three adolescent survivors of CSA, who took part in individual music therapy processes, constructed their identities through the techniques afforded them in sessions. All three participants had experienced multiple trauma, most notably abandonment/orphanhood, and this appeared to impact on their exploration of identity in sessions. Findings showed that the main affordances of music therapy for participants were the mastery experienced in relation to certain techniques (which appeared to support confidence and further exploration), and the use of symbolism (promoting the exploration of difficult experiences, as well as affording participants experimentation with preferred identities).