music, therapy, and me

In the past two weeks, I've had very few positive sessions at my facility. My students are struggling, our mostly new staff members are struggling, and I am struggling to get anything accomplished. I am feeling like a failure as a therapist because I haven't had a day go by where I wasn't physically assaulted by a client for simply requesting that they remain safe in my therapy space.  Here's the deal, folks. Music therapy is not always comprised of "happy people making happy sounds." There are times when you have to deal with humans at their worst, and it is not fun. These times, though, are the times when music can be most powerful and the role of the music therapist is the most important. Sure, any therapist can enjoy their job when everything is going right, but it takes stamina and realism and dedication to stick with a difficult client during a difficult time! (I currently have about 100 clients going through difficult times, so I am feeling like ...

I will think of these trees today... Today is a case of "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothing at all." I'm going to acknowledge my feelings and then move into this day finding as much positivity as possible. My facebook feed's daily happiness post includes only the words, "ten more days." That's how much time is left between now and the next school break, and I really need to know that there are seven work days and three weekend days in between now and then. The humidity is killing me. I feel that this may be a literal statement as my breathing is more difficult with the level of moisture in the air. When I was in California just recently, I felt the heat, but I didn't have to use my inhaler. I could move and function well. Out here, I just can't do the same thing, and I can't get away from or avoid the air. It's everywhere. So, I struggle all during these months. I slept an hour later than usual. It...

I have been really cranky lately.  If you've been reading my latest rants, you will see this trend going and going and going. I am not going to apologize. I am who I am, and I feel what I feel. That's that. I do, on the other hand, need to get a grip on myself and my emotions so that I can do what I need to be doing. So, I am resetting myself in 3...2...1 Here's my mantra to reset myself. I am a human being - fully and wonderfully made. My emotions, feelings, expressions, and opinions are as valid as those of others, and I must recognize that in myself. I am a human being - I will have times when I don't feel well or when I am crabby as all get out. I must acknowledge those feelings and act on them in an appropriate manner. I am a human being - There will be times when I do not act in an appropriate manner, but those actions are owned by me. I have to do what I need to do to repair relationships when I have made choices that lead to inappropriate responses...

If you've been reading this blog lately, you know that I have recently taken up another task - one that I love - the role of Internship Director. My intern is starting her third week with us this week, and nothing has gone like I planned. Now, from the get-go, let me tell you that none of this has anything to do with the intern. She's been doing exactly what she's been told and seems to be taking things in stride. Nope. Everything that is going on is on my end. Would you like the rundown? I was fortunate to get her into the three day behavior management training during her first week. I perused the calendar very carefully and sent her to the place indicated on the training calendar. They had moved the training to a completely different location. The training calendar did not have the correct times listed on it for the training that she was supposed to have. We ended up working several hours extra because the trainers said, and I quote, "Well, we don't really f...