27th November 2002

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Music therapy can be vital in helping heal the pain of children traumatised by conflict, according to a University of Ulster expert.

But Jordanstown-based Dr Julie Sutton, a state registered music therapist, pointed out that there is no central funding for music therapy in the province, unlike other regions of the UK.

Dr Sutton was speaking as she launched her book “Music, Music Therapy and Trauma”, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. In it she revealed how she helped a child traumatised by the Northern Ireland Troubles come to terms with his inner demons.

She said: “There are some charitable organisations which support music therapy and a charitable trust which employs some therapists who do contract work for health bodies and other organisations”, she added.

“We have the message that the Department of Health feels that funding should come from the Department of Education if therapists work in schools and the education authorities view therapists as health professionals. The Health Boards do fund some therapy sessions but contracts are often short-term, for six months or a year. There are no permanent posts unlike other parts of the UK”.

In her book she tells of her work with one eight year old boy, Jerry, the son of a member of the security forces in Northern Ireland, who was so traumatised by the dangers faced by his father that he was literally speechless at times of stress.

Through 40 sessions of music therapy he learned to come to terms with the trauma and gradually overcame his behavioural problems which included disruptive behaviour in the classroom and playground. Initially he was in a special school but after therapy was able to go back to mainstream education.

The book also outlines how music therapists are working with trauma victims in South Africa, Bosnia, Israel and New York.

Dr Sutton said: “Music therapy is well regarded in more than 30 countries worldwide but we are still finding out how it can be used to treat people in Northern Ireland who are suffering from the effects of trauma.

“It is a very powerful medium and has to be used very subtly. It is an intense treatment which works with the emotions. Those emotions can be very raw because of the effects of the traumatic experience and it is vital that further damage is not caused”.

Music, Music Therapy and Trauma will be launched at the University of Ulster campus in Belfast (York Street) on Wednesday, November 27 at 6.30pm.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk