music, therapy, and me

Let's dive into the archives for this week's post. Here we go in our way back machine... There are so many ways that we, as music therapists, can adapt and apply music and different elements to support our clients' journeys towards their therapeutic goals. I find that writing things down helps me remember the options available to me when singing and playing a song in sessions, so this is how I think of music. This particular format is not something that everyone relates to, but it fits my brain very well. Each of the elements of music that I know about is on this chart, and I think through my options. When I am using songs in therapy sessions, I can think through the work I've already done, and that thinking helps me be a more effective music therapist (in my opinion!). So, this song, Old Friends , performed by Simon and Garfunkel, is one that is not familiar to many of my clients. If using it in a session, I would first need to introduce the song to them. I do this by ...

If you are a long-time reader, then welcome back. If you are new to this blog, I want to take some time to reestablish my "why" for this blog, for my role in the profession, and for myself. Welcome. My name is MJ, and I am a board certified music therapist who has been in professional practice for 33 and a half years (yes, I will ALWAYS celebrate the half year!). I have recently left a full-time position as a school based music therapist because 30 years means a pension and an opportunity to do something new. I am trying to figure out what the "something new" part means to me, so many of my recent writings have been targeted towards what I want to do next. I started my career in the last century, and I intend on continuing my journey as a music therapist through the next couple of decades.  I started this blog back in 2006 when there were no things like TikTok or Instagram. I am not entirely sure why I named it what I did, but it was probably because my website name...

I spent some time talking to other people this week which was wonderful. Of course, all of the interactions were via Zoom or Meet, but it was good to see faces and hear voices of different people. The first meeting was a focus group that I am part of - for therapist who work with people with I/DD diagnoses. We discussed ideas for sessions and behavior management tips. It was a good discussion that left me with several ideas to pursue. The second meeting was with friends from elementary, junior high, and senior high. We get together every so often to check in with each other. We were all band geeks and had that in common, so they are friends who have been through many of the same things I've been through. Three of us are "retired" but only one of us is actually retired and not thinking about the next steps in our professional life. (It is not me, by the by.) It was good to meet with people who have known me for many decades. They have a way of grounding me which is somethi...

This post is a bit later than my usual early morning thoughts because my brain was in complete overwhelm stage and I couldn't think well. So, after a shower, a trip to the library, and some food - both good for me and not good for me - I am here... writing... something.  I attended a support group last night for therapists who work with people with I/DD diagnoses across the lifespan. I try not to push my products during things like this, but I am getting interested in starting to design things that people out there want and will use. I got a couple of good ideas for some files to put together, so I will be working on that project. I am also working on a competency-based evaluation based on the new AMTA Professional Competencies, the intern webinar series, and other elements of my professional interests. The problem? I'm not sure if any of this work is actually going to do anything for me. I don't want to spin my wheels, so to speak, when it comes to making things or spendin...

This is my favorite Dolly Parton song. I'm going to be crying over here in my corner.  

It was move-in week in my college town, so I know that classes are getting started and students are getting back into the routine of school and all the things that come with being a music therapy student. So, if you are a teacher or a music therapy student, check out this format for thinking through how you can develop ideas for use in pre-internship, internship, and professional clinical interactions with clients. Here is the format along with an explanation. Please note that this was directed towards interns working at my former workplace, so things might not work for every population served. I think it is a good way to think through the process of doing things in the clinic, and the credit for this goes partially to me and mostly to my supervisors over the years who made me do most of these processes and thought exercises over the years. Here goes... (By the way, comments, questions, and criticism are welcome here. Let me know what I am missing, what you have never had to do, and wh...