Abstract:
Introduction/Background: The inclusion of therapeutic modalities for trauma survivors
that integrate the brain, mind, and body is essential for addressing the range of physiological
responses and symptoms caused by interpersonal violence (van der Kolk, 2014). Neglecting to
include the body in therapy leaves out an essential component necessary for healing. The
Polyvagal Theory helps explain the physiological responses to trauma from the perspectives of
biology and neuroscience (Porges, 2018). An emerging method that has been used as a
therapeutic tool has been the incorporation of rhythm and drumming.
Methods: This intervention integrated concepts from polyvagal theory into therapeutic
drumming exercises, such as exploring the different nervous system states through sound and
rhythm. Therapy clients of the Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) at the University
of Alabama (UA) were invited to participate in 5 individual therapy sessions incorporating
rhythm and drumming, with 8 total participants. Participants were then interviewed about their
experiences, and the recorded interviews were transcribed and coded for thematic analysis.
Results: Five main themes emerged from the interviews: connecting with sound, insights
gained, sense of agency, sense of safety, and social connection. Several sub-themes related to
each theme are also discussed.
Discussion: As an initial feasibility study, this project’s aim was to discover what
participants liked and gained from the drumming sessions. All participants mentioned some type
of movement from a sense of isolation to a sense of connection. The drumming sessions also
offered survivors of trauma a creative and safe outlet for expressing difficult emotions and
memories that may otherwise be too difficult to discuss using words.
