Twists

I just finished watching a show that I am enjoying and there was a MAJOR twist at the end of the episode that just left me stunned. No details here, but I am stunned! I didn't see that twist coming, which is pretty unusual for me. I can generally figure these things out, but not this time.

Music therapy is often like this for me. There are twists that happen that I have never imagined. There are moments when I sit and think, "Man, I was never taught how to handle this in music therapy school." For me, these twists are what keep me intrigued and working with people. I figure that I will stop being a music therapist when I stop feeling a bit of surprise each week with how the people who come into my sessions respond to music and to music therapy and to me.

I had my two groups with the newly formed class at my facility. I focused on play during this week - I wanted to see how these five children played with toys and with each other. I also observed some preferences and encouraged kids to dance. I enjoyed the sessions, and I learned so much from just setting up some simple therapeutic music experiences (TMEs) and watching.

I think I am getting a pretty good impression of how this class will be in music therapy, but I know that there will still be some surprises as we move forward in our relationship. That's the best thing about working with people - there will always be surprises. Again, these surprises keep me going. I think it is the problem-solving aspect that challenges me on a regular basis.

I am finished with clinical interactions with that group for the week. I have five groups to lead today and one dyad session. The kids that I have ahead of me are completely different in nature, and I am dreading today a bit. We didn't do Wednesday last week due to snow and ice, so it has been some time since I've seen my Wednesday groups. I have to go into today with as much of a positive attitude as I can, but I find it difficult to get started on this day. I am not looking forward to getting the last group back on Wednesdays, but that's my job, so Wednesdays will continue to be a challenge. I am going to ask for some changes so I don't have so many groups on Wednesdays next year. During the summer, I have seven groups on Wednesdays. That is too many to think about, especially with later mornings on Thursdays due to medication issues. I would rather have more on Monday so Wednesday could be lighter in session demands, but who knows if the person who does my schedule will allow that.

So, we will see what twists will happen during this indeterminably long day. I am anticipating some passive tantrums from my current, difficult client. I am also thinking that there will be some silly moments as well. There usually are some silly things that happen in the course of my week. Those twists are also pretty surprising - in a great way. I love it when a client sings along with one of my original songs for the first time. It shows me that they are listening and are actively engaged with the music I am presenting. I get a thrill each and every time with each and every client.

We will see how many of my TMEs get twisted into different TMEs than I planned. (I honestly love when that happens as well - when my clients take power from me and use it for themselves to make what I bring something different and better for them.) So, we will start off on the journey that I envision and end up where my clients need to be - which will be the same as the place I think we will end up. Sometimes I get the destination right, sometimes there are twists and turns in our interactions. That's the way therapy goes.

Happy, happy Wednesday.