Relational repair through recording: A music therapy case study with a child and parents following the october 7 attack

The October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel caused mass displacement, leaving children and families facing acute psychological distress, emotional dysregulation, and relational strain. While music therapy is increasingly used in crisis and trauma contexts, little is known about how recording can function as a therapeutic tool for displaced children and their families. This case study examines how recording in music therapy may support emotional regulation, narrative processing, and relational repair in a post-crisis setting. A single-case qualitative design was employed, drawing on trauma-informed, relational, and dyadic music therapy principles. The case involved an 8-year-old Israeli child and his parents who received therapy in a temporary clinic established for displaced families. Clinical notes, session recordings, and therapist reflections were thematically analyzed to trace therapeutic processes across sessions. The intervention centered on musical play, improvisation, and multi-layered recording, culminating in a collaborative project involving both parents. The recording process created a co-creative space for self-expression, relational repair, and symbolic meaning-making. The child’s progression from structured exploration to creative leadership reflected increased safety, self-efficacy, and emotional openness. This case highlights the potential of recording to facilitate both individual recovery and dyadic healing, underscoring the importance of including caregivers in early trauma interventions. It demonstrates the value of flexible, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate music therapy in addressing complex trauma among displaced children and families in times of collective crisis. • Music therapy with recording aided trauma processing after the October 7 attack. • Dyadic sessions supported co-regulation and parent-child connection. • Recording enabled agency, narrative building, and shared meaning-making. • Flexible, culturally sensitive music therapy proved effective post-crisis.