Thoughtful Thursday: Writing As My Therapy

Yesterday, I revealed my shameful secret that I didn't really enjoy or even try to read much music therapy research. Now, there is a talk radio show, run by Janice Lindstrom and Meganne Masko, that does talk about the research being done in our field, so I am not the only one who is seeking this research to practice link. That's reassuring as it seems, at times, that I am solitary in my opinions about this profession. Here is proof I am not alone. (By the way, here is the link to the most recent Journal Club podcast. Check it out!)

I went back to work and during my planning time, I delved my way back into the most recent edition of the Journal of Music Therapy (JMT, 52(4)). This is the special focus edition. I read through the thoughts of Carolyn Kenny and Simon Gilbertson (who I have kind of "met" through the Online Conference for Music Therapy - coming soon!!). I am starting to understand what is meant by Arts Based Research and am finding that, while it doesn't have much to do with my clinical hands-on work with my clients, it is certainly more applicable to my life as a therapist.

Shall I expand on this?

One of the things that I feel is essential in the life of a therapist is self-reflection and personal processing. Some of us do this with another person - this is called supervision. Some of us do this in other ways. Some of us go back and forth depending on what our situation is and how we are reacting and responding to the world at the time.

What this edition of the JMT is demonstrating to me is that processing situations and happenings within music therapy (and other life circumstances) can be done in many different ways. It may not be the easiest thing for some of us to put our experiences into words until we have first channeled those experiences into art. There is something so unique about the process of music and therapy that may elude us when we try to put it into words. By placing the experience into another medium (or even keeping it in the music medium), we may be able to translate what we are emoting into other forms of communication. We may not, but the expression of those experiences help us to figure out what went on in the session and in the event.

For me, my primary way of processing music therapy is through this blog. As you know (if you have read some of my other posts), some of what I write is intended for others (TME Tuesdays, Supplemental Sundays, and the like), but other posts are just for me. That's why I don't have a theme for every day. I like being able to process things that are happening in my life in this format. It helps me keep track of trends and my responses to things.

Find your way to ponder what it is we do as therapists. If that is painting or doodling or writing songs or meditating or singing karaoke or taking trips, then just do it.

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