“Therapeutic Songwriting And Complex Trauma” Principle Investigator: Jeffrey H. Hatcher, MA, MTA Abstract: Many music therapists use songwriting in their work. We seldom, however, find formal discussion of the methods employed or the benefits derived. Based on work conducted with a client in a day program for people living with HIV/AIDS, the investigator cites recovery from Complex Trauma (Herman) as the theoretical model of change used to guide both the therapeutic songwriting processes and the verbal discourse they engendered. Introduction “I never thought I’d see a day where I felt like I do today, where I actually feel in charge of myself and be happy to look at myself every morning and be proud. It’s a good feeling.” Stewart This paper describes a therapeutic songwriting process with a man living with HIV/AIDS who was in recovery from addiction to illicit street drugs. It describes the effects of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or ‘Complex Trauma’ (Herman, 1992). I discuss how our work assisted Stewart in exploring complex trauma, the emotions our songs evoked, the meaning his songs held for him and the role they played in his reintegration back into society. For space considerations I do not describe the decision-making process behind the selection of musical elements outside of the lyrics themselves but focus instead on the elements cited above. Definition I define therapeutic songwriting as: “The intentional co-creation, by therapist and participant, of musical works comprised of music elements as chosen by the client in collaboration with the therapist, and lyric content supplied by the client. The therapist presents additions and suggestions to edit musical or lyrical content when deemed necessary based on assessment of - 1 -