music, therapy, and me

If you haven't seen it, the World Federation of Music Therapy has released a definition of music therapy. You can find it here . I gotta tell you that I really like this definition. Defining what we do as music therapists is difficult because what I do with clients may be completely different from what you do with the same clients, and that is fine in the grand scheme of things. We do not have to agree exactly on what we are doing and how we do it to share this profession. As our society moves towards more egocentric behaviors and attitudes that opinions are facts and difficulty with others, I feel that having a shared definition is important. What I do in music therapy sessions is enveloped in the WFMT definition, and yours is as well. I think that we do better when we realize that each of us has a unique way of doing this job and that we need these paths to enrich the lives of our clients. In other words, I do music therapy the way I think it is appropriate and you do it your way...

It's back - the reason why I no longer participate so much in the greater music therapy community - people squawking about things that are outside what I feel is the purview of music therapy and then shaming anyone who dares to present a different viewpoint. I view this as the Politicization of music therapy, and it is something that I do not appreciate from the greater music therapy population in general. There are so many bullies out there on social media, and when you try to call them out, they go into devastation mode bringing their bully buddies into the conversation. Currently, it seems the bullies are calling out anyone who dares to provide any sort of commentary that contradicts or asks for clarification about the current bully trends. As far as I can tell, the current issue seems to have started with someone who objected to the use of profanity in a specific post and now has morphed into a criticism of anyone who objects to assertions about politics and therapy. I am tryin...

I am frustrated. This probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to those of you who have been reading my posts lately, but it might surprise new readers (Hi, there, new reader!) that I am frustrated with the world of music therapy in general these days. Now, my own job is fine (just got carpet in my room), but I am extremely frustrated with things happening in our professional organization, the American Music Therapy Association. I am tired of people who decide not to be members of the organization making demands on what my organization does.  I do not have the right to demand that the Canadian Music Therapy Association do anything.  The reason? I am not a member of the Canadian Music Therapy Association ! Why do we feel that we have to cater to the demands of people who do not pay money to be members? Why do we feel that we have to change everything to accommodate the demands of those who have chosen NOT to be part of our group? Is this an example of being a therapist getti...

Okay. Here's the deal. It seems that there are significant problems happening within our national organization. I am not a person in the know. I am not someone who has been keeping up with whatever is happening on Music Therapists Unite because I decided a LONG TIME AGO that Facebook is not the place where we can unite on ANYTHING! I withdrew my participation in that group MANY years ago due to the constant bickering and nasty comments about other music therapists that I saw over and over again. All I know about situations is what is being filtered out by various parties about various circumstances. So, all of the following blog nonsense is based on my current status of not really knowing lots about the situations that are being debated and are causing so much concern! Keep the above paragraph in mind, please, as you read the rest of my opinions about stuff - I am a bit ignorant of all the details, and I am seeking to know more without overwhelming my entire life with any one situa...