Music Therapy to Meet the Needs of Forcibly Displaced Children

This paper investigates the role of music therapy in supporting refugee children and youth from Ukraine during their initial resettlement in Norwegian schools. With the ongoing war in Ukraine escalating since 2022, a significant number of refugees have sought safety in Norway, prompting the exploration of music therapy as a tool for their emotional and social adaptation. The study employs focus group interviews with school staff, utilizing thematic and narrative analysis to uncover key insights. The findings are categorized into two main themes: How Music Provided Support andChallenges in Implementing Music Therapy. The first theme highlights the positive impact of music therapy, including its ability to provide emotional support through calming activities, foster relationships among peers and between students and teachers, and promote a sense of fun and mastery. The second theme addresses the obstacles encountered during implementation, such as the initial lack of structure and continuity, limited understanding of music therapy’s role, and the need for stronger institutional support at higher levels within the school system. These findings underscore the value of music therapy in promoting resilience and social cohesion, while also emphasizing the importance of clear organizational frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration for successful implementation. The paper concludes by proposing implications for practice. Acknowledgements The project received support from Polyfon knowledge cluster for music therapy, to create a qualitative study of the initial phase.