Music, Therapy, and Me

When I started this blog, I picked the title very carefully. I wanted a place where I could talk about things that I love (ooh, does having "me" in the title seem a bit self-aggrandizing? Yes, I love myself. I had an interesting conversation with one of my clients yesterday about how we need to love ourselves before we can love others - he started the conversation and made lots of good points. Hooray for self-esteem!!) I wanted to be able to spend time thinking through my ideas in words, and a blog seemed like a good place to do it.

I still think it is, and am grateful for those of you who read it. I hope that you find something of value in the posts I have made, even if you disagree with what I say. Make that, especially when you disagree with what I say! I find that it is just as important to disagree as it is to agree as long as the act of disagreement is conducted in a respectful manner.

 Why am I writing about this today? I honestly don't know.

 All I know is that it's time to make things happen in my music therapy work. I'm starting to define what I want, and I will pursue it!

By the way, did you know that my internship approval committee just finished a HUGE task? If you want to learn more about being a supervisor for interns, you can now complete an AMTA e-course!! Hooray!

On to different things...

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Going on a Squeegee Hunt

One of the songs that I sang over and over and over again as a song leader in Girl Scouts was "Going on a Squeegee Hunt ." Now, you may be wondering what a "squeegee" is - good question! It is an imaginary creature that was probably invented by some obscure girl scout in Southern California many, MANY years ago! Anyway, similar to the traditional children's song of " Going on a Lion/Bear/Tiger Hunt ," the song takes you through a sequential process over, under, around, and through various obstacles towards a goal. Today, as I am sitting here writing, I am thinking about the poor squeegee being hunted. It is just in its cave, trying to do its squeegee things without interruption, when suddenly, BOOM! Some Girl Scout arrives to poke it! The poor squeegee does what it can - it jumps up and chases the Girl Scout all the way home!! This has not been a good work week. It is amazing how people will make mountains out of molehills. Here is the deal. I se...
Read more

Songwriting Sunday: Client Goals First and Foremost

Image
When I am writing music, I tend to do one of two things. I either start with a specific client in mind and write for that client's goals and objectives, or I start with an idea and let the idea grow regardless of the clients that I am serving at the time. I spend time with lots of hypothetical clients - thinking about the vast number of clients and their unique goals as I develop songs and therapeutic music experiences (TMEs). Today, though, I would like to start with the first focus - that of a specific client and his or her or their goals. Currently, I am sharing a wall with a class of students who are experiencing lots of life and school changes. Two students have transferred from residential care to home care and are now day students. One student is brand new to the classroom. Another student recently left the class. All of these changes have shifted the dynamics in the classroom group, and old behaviors of concern have reemerged as well as finding new behaviors to contribute. ...
Read more

Dear AMTA

Dear American Music Therapy Association: I am debating long and hard about remaining in this relationship. I have been in this relationship since college, and this is not a decision that I am taking lightly or without great cost.  I am not happy with what you are bringing to this relationship. Now, I have been a selfish partner over the past several years - mainly because I am not feeling like we share a common mission anymore. It is easy for me to place the blame on you, but I know that this is not all on me. I have tried to be invested in communication and support and understanding, but everyone comes to a time where enough is enough. I am trying very hard to decide if the benefits that you provide to me are worth the feelings that I have about where I think you and I are going. I am not sure that our destination is the same anymore, and this makes me sad. To be completely honest, I am only in this relationship these days for the music therapy interns. I don't think that is a hea...
Read more