Bridging the Clinic to Community: Music Performance as Social Transformation for Military Service Members

Abstract

The use of music performance in music therapy with military service members is discussed as a vehicle for social transformation and reintegration. The use of performance in music therapy is not without controversy primarily because therapy is considered a process, not a product, and confidentiality and privacy are essential components of therapy. However, others have argued that public performances can validate therapeutic changes in clients, give voice to their experiences, raise awareness of social issues within their communities, transform perceptions of injury, or illness in audience members, and may result in the clients gaining support and validation from their communities. We discuss the potential of music performances to contribute to individual development, reinforce rehabilitation, enhance function, and facilitate change at the community level to support reintegration of military service members. We illustrate this through two brief case reports of service members who received music therapy as part of their treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other psychological health concerns at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a Directorate of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States. The service members wrote, learned, and refined songs over multiple music therapy sessions and created song introductions to share with audiences the meanings and benefits gained from integrating performance in music therapy. The case reports also include excerpts of interviews conducted with these service members several months after treatment about their experiences of performing and the perceived impact of their performances on the audience and greater community.

Implementing music therapy through telehealth: considerations for military populations

“…Complex diagnoses, physical limitations, avoidance, and stigma associated with mental health treatment often cause significant barriers to care, and may contribute to increased frustration, depression, and isolation [20]. When implemented in clinical settings, creative arts therapies address symptoms associated with TBI and PTSD, and promote creative processes that break down the warrior culture myth and assist with disclosure [19]. Through the work being done, it is becoming increasingly evident that creative arts therapies telehealth can yield similarly beneficial effects to in-person services by meeting patients in familiar environments such as their homes and communities.…”

“…Historically, the image of the warrior across cultures has represented strength, power, and indestructibility. The effort to maintain this façade in occupational, familial, and social environments may further inhibit disclosure and thus erect barriers to seeking treatment [19]. In addition to the impact of experiences and injuries sustained while serving in the military, as service members transition from active duty to veteran status, a variety of stressors (occupational, familial, social) may trigger frustration, depression, and isolation [20].…”

“…Innovative treatments such as creative arts therapies are integrated in the clinical realm to aid in the rehabilitation of military personnel. These are delivered across a clinic to community continuum to assist transitions and changes such as occupation, service status, and other life situations [19]. Telehealth is a platform that can be used to implement clinical creative arts therapies and promote community reintegration.…”

Treatment description and case series report of a phased music therapy group to support Veteran reintegration

“…Public performances can be validating for patients, allowing for increased expression of their inner selves while feeling connected to audiences (Baker, 2013;Soshensky, 2011). Furthermore, performance in MT can increase community understanding of Veterans (Vaudreuil et al, 2019); this article aligns with existing literature that promotes successful reintegration.…”

“…Veterans of the Global War on Terrorism show increased risk of long-term issues such as homelessness and premature mortality further warranting the need for transition support (Wands, 2013 ). Implementing group-based MT treatment can provide priming for service members who are approaching the end of their military careers by creating structured and social environments that help them connect to Veterans in their communities (Vaudreuil, Bronson, & Bradt, 2019 ).…”