Today's musing comes to you with an earworm, which happens to be the official term for a song that burrows into your ear and won't get out. Click the link if you dare: Walk Like a Man
As I prepare for my final semester as a music therapy student, I frequently catch myself saying and doing things that a therapist would say and do.
I cringed when I saw an alcohol ad sporting "TGI Tuesday!" because I instantly empathized with the clients I saw in practicum who were in rehab for substance abuse.
I cringe for all the ads and other examples in pop culture proudly displaying a less-than-healthy relationship with alcohol and other substances because I know how hard many of these and other clients will work to overcome their less-than-healthy relationships with their drugs of choice. I find myself wishing the rest of the world could be as sensitive to their struggles as a therapist is.
I found myself carefully assessing the family dog's state-specific anxiety and ended up sleeping on the couch with him to help him get settled while I dog-sat for my parents this summer. Then I caught myself using the iso principle to gradually wean him from needing me right next to him all the time.
Michael Westen of Burn Notice wishes everyone got Green Beret training in high school. I wish everyone had some training in verbal counseling skills and active listening.
I cringe when I hear a well-meaning but unhelpful grief platitude being sent rapid-fire at someone who is recently bereaved, and I have to stop myself from sharing the good news about Person-First Language a little too vigorously so as not to offend.
These behaviors weren't a regular part of my life four years ago.
Undertaking the degree program to become a music therapist has, I hope, made me a more careful observer and a better listener. I think it's made me think more carefully about what I say to others. It has taught me to walk the delicate line between sympathy and empathy. It's definitely taught me that sometimes the best thing I can do for those around me is to go for a run or soak in a bubble bath.
Slowly but surely, I think I am becoming a therapist!
Have you noticed these kinds of changes in yourself as you progressed from green student to professional MT-BC? I would love to hear how you walk the walk and talk the talk!
Showing posts with label music therapists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music therapists. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Friday, November 9, 2012
The Rough Edges and Beyond
Music therapists spend a lot of their time with people who are not exhibiting peak levels of human functioning. If you see a hospice patient who is experiencing tremendous physical pain, you see some of that person's "rough edges." If you see a client who has difficulty controlling his or her bowel movements, those are more rough edges. A child who is so frustrated at his or her communication difficulties that tantrums and violence ensue - that is also certainly a rough edge of the range of human possibility.
Music therapists see people at some of the most raw and vulnerable points in their lives, when things are the roughest. We see precious pre-term infants, struggling for a chance to live, and equally precious human beings on the other end of the lifespan who are actively dying.We are called in to assist with nearly every other rough patch of life in between.
The therapeutic relationship takes an enormous amount of trust on the part of the people we assist. Our clients must trust us enough with all of their vulnerabilities to allow us in to help. Music therapists are blessed enough to be invited in to those most vulnerable moments of human existence and to make those moments feel a little safer, a little smoother.
In fact, one of my favorite things about music therapists is our ability to see so much more than our client's rough edges. We see beyond - to potential, to creative expression, to personal growth in the face of tremendous challenges. When we look at a client, we assess and acknowledge their "rough spots" and all the areas that need improving, but we also focus so much of our energy on what each client can do.
Music is so very adaptable on so many levels. Everyone can engage in music in some way, no matter how small or how passively. How humbling. How utterly amazing.
You must be a special kind of person to expose oneself to all the rough edges of humanity, to throw oneself into the work of smoothing those edges. It takes a special kind of person to clearly see a person's limitations and to also see far, far beyond them.
It takes a music therapist.
So on this gorgeous Friday afternoon, I am thankful for all the music therapists and other helping professionals the world over who go about this work on a daily basis. May you find that you are able to see the good and the potential in every client you meet.
Music therapists see people at some of the most raw and vulnerable points in their lives, when things are the roughest. We see precious pre-term infants, struggling for a chance to live, and equally precious human beings on the other end of the lifespan who are actively dying.We are called in to assist with nearly every other rough patch of life in between.
The therapeutic relationship takes an enormous amount of trust on the part of the people we assist. Our clients must trust us enough with all of their vulnerabilities to allow us in to help. Music therapists are blessed enough to be invited in to those most vulnerable moments of human existence and to make those moments feel a little safer, a little smoother.
In fact, one of my favorite things about music therapists is our ability to see so much more than our client's rough edges. We see beyond - to potential, to creative expression, to personal growth in the face of tremendous challenges. When we look at a client, we assess and acknowledge their "rough spots" and all the areas that need improving, but we also focus so much of our energy on what each client can do.
Music is so very adaptable on so many levels. Everyone can engage in music in some way, no matter how small or how passively. How humbling. How utterly amazing.
You must be a special kind of person to expose oneself to all the rough edges of humanity, to throw oneself into the work of smoothing those edges. It takes a special kind of person to clearly see a person's limitations and to also see far, far beyond them.
It takes a music therapist.
So on this gorgeous Friday afternoon, I am thankful for all the music therapists and other helping professionals the world over who go about this work on a daily basis. May you find that you are able to see the good and the potential in every client you meet.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Networking for Students: Is it Really So Scary?
Like "advocacy" the word "networking" gets thrown around a lot as something that music therapy students need to learn to do to be successful. And frankly, like "advocacy" it's a word that can scare the daylights out of music therapy students.
But is it really that hard to start making connections with professionals in our field? Sure, as a student, it can be very intimidating to walk up to someone who authored your textbooks and introduce yourself, but it is also doable, and very rewarding.
Here are some of the strategies that I have found most helpful for getting connected to the bigger music therapy world.
1. Start Online
If the thought of actually shaking hands with a well-known and respected professional makes you shake, maybe it's a good idea to start by building an online presence with sites like Twitter or LinkedIn.
Both are free and easy to use. For Twitter, I suggest starting out by following AMTA and then go by the suggestions Twitter gives. Follow anyone who includes "MT-BC" in their information. Follow the people they follow. And so on! Also check out the #musictherapy feed to see what is going on with music therapists on Twitter.
LinkedIn is great, too. Once you make a profile, you will have suggestions for professional contacts with whom to connect, as well as having the capability to search for specific people you know (or would like to know).
If you would like to get your name out there even more, it is very easy to start a music therapy-themed blog just like this one. Just because you are a student doesn't mean you won't have any thoughts worth sharing with the larger music therapy community.
2. Come Prepared
I went to the AMTA annual conference last year for the first time, and I was totally overwhelmed with all of the amazing MT-BC's I met. And I was shocked that after chatting with people for a few minutes, they often wanted to exchange contact information with me. I felt silly pulling out my notebook and scribbling down my information for someone who could someday be my employer.
This year, I came prepared with some simple business cards. Many services like VistaPrint will allow you to make business cards inexpensively. A lot of local print shops will also do student discounts. It doesn't have to be fancy, and having those cards in your pocket can make you feel much more confident approaching someone at conference.
3. Remember That Professionals are Still People
Jayne Standley, PhD, MT-BC, is very well known for her work and research with the NICU. She's one of our better-known names. And I got a hug from her at conference. A hug. From Jayne Standley. I was nervous going up and introducing myself, but obviously from her reaction, she was very approachable. In my experience, professional music therapists rarely are "too busy" or "too famous" or "too anything" to talk with students. In fact, professionals are usually very excited to share their resources, knowledge, and wisdom with students. So if you see someone you recognize from a journal article, textbook, or news feature, remember that they were once completely unknown students, and chances are, they would really like to share their experience with you. Just. Go. Talk. To. Them.
4. Be Grateful
Always thank conference presenters for sharing their knowledge with you. Do this in person and then follow up with a thank-you email. Most of these people have their contact information online and it's not hard to find. Don't be scared to send an email and thank them again for their presentation.
5. Follow Up and Keep Doing It
Finally, keep track of all the business cards you have collected, the names of the conference presenters you heard from, and all the internship directors you spoke with. Within one week of meeting them, send a follow-up email reminding them how nice it was to chat with them and let them know you are interested in staying in touch in the future. Touch base with these people as appropriate, usually no more frequently than every 6-8 months and no less frequently than every year or so.
The rewards of getting connected with professionals now instead of later can be great, so don't let "I'm just a student" hold you back.
Go forth and network!
But is it really that hard to start making connections with professionals in our field? Sure, as a student, it can be very intimidating to walk up to someone who authored your textbooks and introduce yourself, but it is also doable, and very rewarding.
Here are some of the strategies that I have found most helpful for getting connected to the bigger music therapy world.
1. Start Online
If the thought of actually shaking hands with a well-known and respected professional makes you shake, maybe it's a good idea to start by building an online presence with sites like Twitter or LinkedIn.
Both are free and easy to use. For Twitter, I suggest starting out by following AMTA and then go by the suggestions Twitter gives. Follow anyone who includes "MT-BC" in their information. Follow the people they follow. And so on! Also check out the #musictherapy feed to see what is going on with music therapists on Twitter.
LinkedIn is great, too. Once you make a profile, you will have suggestions for professional contacts with whom to connect, as well as having the capability to search for specific people you know (or would like to know).
If you would like to get your name out there even more, it is very easy to start a music therapy-themed blog just like this one. Just because you are a student doesn't mean you won't have any thoughts worth sharing with the larger music therapy community.
2. Come Prepared
I went to the AMTA annual conference last year for the first time, and I was totally overwhelmed with all of the amazing MT-BC's I met. And I was shocked that after chatting with people for a few minutes, they often wanted to exchange contact information with me. I felt silly pulling out my notebook and scribbling down my information for someone who could someday be my employer.
This year, I came prepared with some simple business cards. Many services like VistaPrint will allow you to make business cards inexpensively. A lot of local print shops will also do student discounts. It doesn't have to be fancy, and having those cards in your pocket can make you feel much more confident approaching someone at conference.
3. Remember That Professionals are Still People
Jayne Standley, PhD, MT-BC, is very well known for her work and research with the NICU. She's one of our better-known names. And I got a hug from her at conference. A hug. From Jayne Standley. I was nervous going up and introducing myself, but obviously from her reaction, she was very approachable. In my experience, professional music therapists rarely are "too busy" or "too famous" or "too anything" to talk with students. In fact, professionals are usually very excited to share their resources, knowledge, and wisdom with students. So if you see someone you recognize from a journal article, textbook, or news feature, remember that they were once completely unknown students, and chances are, they would really like to share their experience with you. Just. Go. Talk. To. Them.
4. Be Grateful
Always thank conference presenters for sharing their knowledge with you. Do this in person and then follow up with a thank-you email. Most of these people have their contact information online and it's not hard to find. Don't be scared to send an email and thank them again for their presentation.
5. Follow Up and Keep Doing It
Finally, keep track of all the business cards you have collected, the names of the conference presenters you heard from, and all the internship directors you spoke with. Within one week of meeting them, send a follow-up email reminding them how nice it was to chat with them and let them know you are interested in staying in touch in the future. Touch base with these people as appropriate, usually no more frequently than every 6-8 months and no less frequently than every year or so.
The rewards of getting connected with professionals now instead of later can be great, so don't let "I'm just a student" hold you back.
Go forth and network!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Music Therapy: Time to Be Ourselves
This weekend, Dr. Dena Register of the University of Kansas (see http://music.ku.edu/programs/memt/faculty/register/ for her bio) came to Drury University's Center for Music Therapy to discuss the process of getting state recognized licensure for music therapists in the state of Missouri. Colorado just introduced a bill with licensure language, and two other states passed either licensure or registry bills in 2011.
It has been a record year for music therapy developments with unprecedented coverage in the news, and media such as the film "The Music Never Stopped" and Jodi Picoult's novel "Sing me Home."
Things are moving and changing.
In the past, music therapists have sought the important process of licensure alongside or underneath the umbrella of other therapy and helping professions, such as in New York state where music therapists are licensed under a Creative Arts Therapist license.
This is not the direction we'd like to see music therapy licensure take in MO. Oftentimes, when someone asks us, "Music therapy? What's that?" we respond by saying, "We do this that's like occupational therapy, and this that's like psychotherapy, and this that's like speech therapy, and this that's like physical therapy, and, and, and..."
Dr. Register proposed that while this is a useful way to communicate with people who have never heard of music therapy, perhaps it's time we begin to stand alone because none of those other professions work across the life-span with any and every diagnosis like music therapists do. We love and respect our peers and colleagues in the other helping professions, but as Dr. Register pointed out, you are not likely to see an art therapist working in the NICU, or a dance therapist working in hospice and end-of-life care.
The other therapists tend to define themselves by the area they practice in: speech, occupational, physical, development, psychology.
We call ourselves music therapists because music is the main overriding factor that ties all our work together. Music can be clinically beneficial to every age and diagnosis, from labor and delivery through the very last seconds of life.
It's time that we chose to stand up and be counted as an independent, fully-functioning profession. The other professions have worked hard and deserve the state recognition and understanding that they receive.
Music therapists are music therapists. Nothing more, nothing less, and it's time that we be ourselves.
It has been a record year for music therapy developments with unprecedented coverage in the news, and media such as the film "The Music Never Stopped" and Jodi Picoult's novel "Sing me Home."
Things are moving and changing.
In the past, music therapists have sought the important process of licensure alongside or underneath the umbrella of other therapy and helping professions, such as in New York state where music therapists are licensed under a Creative Arts Therapist license.
This is not the direction we'd like to see music therapy licensure take in MO. Oftentimes, when someone asks us, "Music therapy? What's that?" we respond by saying, "We do this that's like occupational therapy, and this that's like psychotherapy, and this that's like speech therapy, and this that's like physical therapy, and, and, and..."
Dr. Register proposed that while this is a useful way to communicate with people who have never heard of music therapy, perhaps it's time we begin to stand alone because none of those other professions work across the life-span with any and every diagnosis like music therapists do. We love and respect our peers and colleagues in the other helping professions, but as Dr. Register pointed out, you are not likely to see an art therapist working in the NICU, or a dance therapist working in hospice and end-of-life care.
The other therapists tend to define themselves by the area they practice in: speech, occupational, physical, development, psychology.
We call ourselves music therapists because music is the main overriding factor that ties all our work together. Music can be clinically beneficial to every age and diagnosis, from labor and delivery through the very last seconds of life.
It's time that we chose to stand up and be counted as an independent, fully-functioning profession. The other professions have worked hard and deserve the state recognition and understanding that they receive.
Music therapists are music therapists. Nothing more, nothing less, and it's time that we be ourselves.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sticks and Stones: Breaking the "Handicapped" Association
As small children, before we learn basic language skills, we learn to identify certain words with pictures and logos. Many of us can identify the McDonald's logo before we can print our first names. Some of us saw the "Coca-Cola" or "Sprite" logos and associated them with a general word like "soda" or "pop." All in all, these word-picture associations are powerful and deeply rooted in our earliest memories.
And that's usually not a huge problem. Quickly associating information with a basic picture is an important skill to help us navigate our world on a daily basis. The issue appears when we have made an association that can be harmful to others.
As a child, I learned that the white individual in a wheelchair on a blue field meant "handicapped." For years, I never questioned that association. It was everywhere - handicapped parking, the handicapped entrance, handicapped license plates.
It wasn't until I came to college as a music therapy major that I learned about Person-First Language and how important it is to speak about people first and their characteristics second. (For an excellent overview of PFL please see http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf.)
Obviously, as soon as I learned about the importance of speaking about people first and disabilities second, I made a resolve to eliminate the word "handicapped" from my vocabulary and make an effort to educate those around me. The problem for me comes from the blue and white wheelchair logo. It is so deeply engrained in my memory with the word "handicapped" that every time I see a license plate in traffic with that logo, my brain automatically retrieves that word. Each time this happens, I practice retraining myself to think or say aloud, "That symbol simply refers to an individual with a disability, not a disabled or handicapped person. They are a person first and foremost."
Who knows how long it will take me to break this automatic association formed in childhood? The point is, I am going to keep trying until I accomplish it, because as a future therapist, I choose to speak, think, and act respectfully towards individuals with disabilities.
And that's usually not a huge problem. Quickly associating information with a basic picture is an important skill to help us navigate our world on a daily basis. The issue appears when we have made an association that can be harmful to others.
As a child, I learned that the white individual in a wheelchair on a blue field meant "handicapped." For years, I never questioned that association. It was everywhere - handicapped parking, the handicapped entrance, handicapped license plates.
It wasn't until I came to college as a music therapy major that I learned about Person-First Language and how important it is to speak about people first and their characteristics second. (For an excellent overview of PFL please see http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf.)
Obviously, as soon as I learned about the importance of speaking about people first and disabilities second, I made a resolve to eliminate the word "handicapped" from my vocabulary and make an effort to educate those around me. The problem for me comes from the blue and white wheelchair logo. It is so deeply engrained in my memory with the word "handicapped" that every time I see a license plate in traffic with that logo, my brain automatically retrieves that word. Each time this happens, I practice retraining myself to think or say aloud, "That symbol simply refers to an individual with a disability, not a disabled or handicapped person. They are a person first and foremost."
Who knows how long it will take me to break this automatic association formed in childhood? The point is, I am going to keep trying until I accomplish it, because as a future therapist, I choose to speak, think, and act respectfully towards individuals with disabilities.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)