Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

space for support and they informally set up their own group while
waiting for the children.
Concluding thoughts
My hope is that this paper has given a brief introduction to group work
with bereaved siblings, highlighting the importance of understanding
contemporary bereavement practise and theories, and the affects the
death of a sibling has upon a child’s life. Although other bereavement
work takes place in children’s hospices, this group was the first of its
kind in a UK children’s hospice. It seems that within society one is
required to ‘get over’ and ‘move on’ after loss, clichés that do not allow
space and time for grief. Within this group there was no set agenda, no
programme or theme. Group members had all shared a similar
experience and were given space and most importantly time, to express
feelings and share information in a non-threatening, safe environment.
Other areas of my work have been influenced by this study, as loss in its
many forms, is a cardinal issue in all music therapist’s work.
References
Aldridge, D. (Ed.) (1999). Music Therapy in Palliative Care. London,
Jessica Kinsley Publishers.
Barnes, B.,Ernst,S.& Hyde, K. (1999) An Introduction to Groupwork: A
Group-Analytic Perspective. London:MacMillian Press Ltd
Bean, J. (1992) Bereavement in childhood – Music Therapy Intervention,
A Case Study. Conference Proceedings, ‘Music Therapy in Health
and Education in the European Community, 4,14-25.
Bowlby, J. (1998). Loss: Sadness and Depression. London: Pimlico.
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