Die gebruik van musiek as deel van pastorale berading aan persone wat worstel met swaarmoedigheid

Abstract

Background: In today’s postmodern world, pastoral care is facing several challenges. Until recently, pastoral counselling was founded on a modernist intellectual-analytical approach and therefore the focus was mostly on using strategies that rely on the left hemisphere of the brain. However, the needs of clients have changed. This study explores music as a method that involves both hemispheres as it is a whole brain function. There are no clear guidelines for the use of music in pastoral counselling yet, but it can offer a valuable new way of counselling the postmodern person by involving the whole brain. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to show what therapeutic role music can play as a tool during pastoral counselling to people grappling with heavy-heartedness. The scope of the work is limited to the use of music in a therapeutic aid during pastoral counselling to people grappling with heavy-heartedness. The subsequent objectives or goals of this study were: * to determine the current state of research on the therapeutic role of music in pastoral counselling to people who struggle with heavy-heartedness; * to gain insight into the therapeutic role of music in counselling to people who struggle with heavy-heartedness through a multidisciplinary literature study; * to find Scriptural perspectives on the therapeutic effects of music on the state of mind of people who struggle with heavy-heartedness; and * to formulate pastoral guidelines for the inclusion of music as a therapeutic tool during pastoral counselling to people who are grappling with heavy-heartedness. Method: This study departs from a practical-theological perspective. Practical theology has several subcategories, and this study is part of the pastoral-theological paradigm. Using Osmer’s hermeneutical model of practical theological interpretation, the study sought to formulate pastoral guidelines that can be used to improve the outcomes of pastoral care initiatives. The model poses several questions for answer during a study as the researcher moves through four tasks: the descriptive empirical task (What is happening?), the interpretive task (Why is this happening?), the normative task (What should happen?), and the pragmatic task (How should we react?).

The research involved a literary study as the methodology. Conclusions were formulated based on an examination of the available body of literature as guided by Osmer’s model. Data were collected from international literature in the fields of theology, psychology, pastoral counselling, music therapy and social work, among others. Results: The study revealed that pastoral care to a person with heavy-heartedness holds many challenges. These challenges emanate from the complicated nature of depression (as a synonym for heavy-heartedness) and its onset and the lack of strategies in pastoral counselling that involve both the right and the left hemispheres of the brain. Furthermore, the descriptive task revealed a lack of research on the use of music as part of pastoral counselling to persons grappling with heavy-heartedness. There is also a gap between the modern and postmodern strategies used for pastoral counselling. Change in this regard is immanent. The imperative task brought to light that music has been used successfully to treat depression. Through the use of music, the physical and spiritual needs of the distressed can be met. During the normative task, the study gleaned pastoral principles from Psalm 38, 42 and 43 to derive the normative perspectives on how Christians ought to act in times of distress. Genesis 4:21 and Revelation 5 offered an understanding of the gift of music from God to his people. 1 Samuel 16:23 shows the profound impact music as a therapy can have on a depressed person. Judges 5 and Acts 16:25 reveal the importance of good supporting relationships to help people through tough situations and demonstrate the use of music to express feelings. The pastoral guidelines formulated as part of this study centre on methods for pastoral counselling to someone who has depression and methods for using music in a therapeutic way to provide holistic healing. The answer to the main question would be that music can be used successfully as an aid in pastoral counselling to people with heavy-heartedness (depression).