Music Therapy Helps to Process Grief
- Chameleon's Journey
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By: Marley Holliday-Henry, MS, MT-BC
This will be my third year providing music therapy groups for the campers at CJ. My first year was in 2023, and I truly didn’t know what to expect, but the campers made the process so easy from the very beginning.
Each child at camp is experiencing the loss of a loved one, meaning they carry grief with them every day. Music therapy gives these campers the opportunity to express their emotions without needing to put words to how they feel in the moment. I love incorporating drumming interventions, which allow the campers to play how they feel instead of talking about it.
Along with drumming, I also use songwriting, music storytelling, singing, and art paired with music to help the campers explore and express their emotions in different ways. Every child connects differently, and offering a variety of creative outlets allows each camper to find what feels safest and most natural for them.
There is research in music therapy that highlights the power of nonverbal emotional expression, and honestly… what better way for a child to communicate their emotions than by banging on a drum?
One of the most meaningful parts of this work is watching how quickly the campers lean into the music. Some arrive shy or unsure, barely tapping their drum at first, and by the end of the session they are fully engaged; playing loudly, smiling at one another, and realizing they are not alone in what they’re feeling.
Watching the kids engage in music with smiles, laughter, and even tears brings me a level of fulfillment that’s hard to put into words. The responses some of the campers give to prompt questions are remarkable, and I am continually impressed by their ability to process and understand emotions at such a young age.
This experience is a reminder of why I chose music therapy in the first place: to create safe spaces where emotions are allowed, grief is honored, and children can feel seen, supported, and understood, even in moments when words fall short. It is truly an honor to be part of their journey, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue volunteering at Chameleon's Journey in the years to come. This is work I deeply enjoy, believe in, and look forward to returning to each spring and fall.
To learn more about Chameleon’s Journey Camp or VIA Health Partners, visit www.chameleonsjourney.org or www.viahp.org.
To learn more about Volunteering with VIA Health Partners, visit us at:
About VIA Health Partners
VIA Health Partners began as Hospice at Charlotte, the state’s first hospice, in 1978 and then operated under the name Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region (HPCCR) for decades before its name change to VIA Health Partners in 2023. Today VIA Health Partners serves 3,500 patients each day for hospice and palliative care services. Our service area encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina - Burke, Catawba, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rutherford, Stanly, and Union. Its service area in South Carolina includes Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties.
