In the wake of another mass tragedy affecting our state, the MTAM Board has started compiling a list of resources for music therapists coping with potential trauma related to these events. We encourage members to browse these resources, while also being mindful of their own needs. If you’re finding that you’re continuing to struggle, we encourage and celebrate seeking help from a trained mental health professional.

Books:

• Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others, Connie Burk and Laura van Dernoot Lipsky (2007)
• The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk (2014)
• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Amelia Nagoski (2019)

Articles and Chapters:

• Borczon, R.M. (2013). Survivors of catastrophic event trauma. In L. Eyre (PhD, MT-BC, LPC, FAMI), Guidelines for music therapy practice in mental health. (pp. 237-262). Barcelona (https://drive.google.com/file/d/14lEqH-a3ILbMnC5znWibL58JOh_MYD0k/view?usp=sharing).
• Sokira, J. (2019). Considerations for music therapy in long term response to mass tragedy and trauma. Music Therapy Today WFMT online journal, 15(1), 78-90. https://issuu.com/presidentwfmt/docs/mt_today._2019

Trainings and CMTEs for Music Therapists:

• Trauma-Informed Music Therapy Certificate: https://www.enlighten-ce.org/course-library
• Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Learning Center: https://learn.nctsn.org/

Resources for How to Talk with Children about Gun Violence:

• From Sandy Hook Promise: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/resources/ways-to-help/help-children-cope-with-gun-violence-tragedy/
• From PBS News: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-to-talk-to-children-about-gun-violence
• From Everytown: https://everytownsupportfund.org/report/talking-to-children-about-gun-violence/

We welcome sharing more resources, especially about this sensitive but important topic. If you have more to add, please reach out to info@musictherapymn.com.