Practice-Oriented Model of Mutual Resonance in Collective Trauma: Music Therapists Amid War

Collective trauma refers to psychological and emotional consequences experienced by communities exposed to large-scale traumatic events such as war. Civilians under constant threat endure instability, displacement, and loss, facing significant psychological distress. Music therapists in such contexts hold unique positions, providing therapeutic care while simultaneously experiencing the same traumatic reality as citizens. Despite extensive literature on the mental health impact of war, music therapists’ lived experiences during active conflict remain underexplored. This study explored experiences of 15 music therapists (11 women, 4 men) working with war victims during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, aiming to develop a practice-oriented model derived from their accounts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, followed by member-checking interviews. Thematic analysis revealed key themes: therapists’ personal civilian experiences during war, their motivations to provide therapeutic services, and translation of these motivations into action through proactive outreach to displaced populations and adaptation of therapeutic settings. Analysis highlighted difficulties including secondary traumatization, helplessness, and lack of supervision. Alongside challenges, participants described coping resources including flexibility, mindfulness practices, and reciprocal strength gained from helping others. These findings generated the Mutual Resonance Cycle for Collective Trauma (MRC-CoT), a practice-oriented model conceptualizing the cyclical interaction between personal trauma exposure, professional motivation, therapeutic action, challenges, coping strategies, and renewal processes. The MRC-CoT builds upon established frameworks such as wounded healer and shared trauma by offering a cyclical perspective capturing the dynamic interaction of personal exposure, professional motivation, and adaptive coping strategies necessary for sustaining therapeutic presence during collective trauma.