When Music Helps… But Isn’t Therapy
Musician vs. Music Therapist: Why the Difference Matters It’s a common and understandable mix-up: if someone is skilled with music and uses it to help people feel better, doesn’t that make them a music therapist? Not quite. While musicians and music therapists both work with music– their roles, training, and goals are fundamentally different. What […]
Music Therapy for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is so exhausting. It wears down the body, but it also drains mood, motivation, and hope. That’s where music therapy becomes more than “just relaxing music.” It’s a clinical, evidence-based practice that helps retrain how the brain experiences pain. Pain is processed in the nervous system, not just in the injured area. Research […]
So… GIM or EMDR?
Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the similarities and differences between Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and EMDR. People have heard of, or perhaps experienced, EMDR sessions, and they’re curious about GIM. Also, as people are increasingly interested in exploring psychedelic therapies, many have questions about where GIM fits into the picture. […]
Changes for a New Year
“Then I go to my brotherAnd I say brother help me pleaseBut he winds up knockin’ meBack down on my knees, ohThere have been times that I thought I couldn’t last for longBut now I think I’m able to carry onIt’s been a long, a long time comingBut I know a change is gonna come, […]
6 Tips for Handling the Holidays
Sing with me now– it’s beginning to look a lot like chaos, everywhere I go…. The holidays are fully upon us– quite possibly the most anticipated and dreaded time of year. Yes, there is much to appreciate and be thankful for at this time of year. However, it also promises considerable holiday stress and anxiety […]
Can music therapy treat depression?
The Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 9% of adults in the US experience the symptoms of depression each year, and that about 3% of adults suffer from major depression (the leading cause of disability for ages 15-44). Additionally, women are 70% more likely to experience depression during their lives than men. Let’s look […]
Does music therapy help with anxiety?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive about music therapy. And the answer is a resounding “yes, it can help with anxiety treatment!” So here are the details (and a video!)– Research studies have shown that music therapy is effective at reducing muscle tension, decreasing anxiety, and feelings of agitation. Plus, it […]
What makes music therapy different?
Recently one of my clients said to me, “You know, I can sit at home and listen to music by myself. But it’s so much better when I do that here in your office with you.” So let’s unpack that a little bit and learn what makes music therapy different from simply listening to music– […]
To Play… and Not to Play
In my younger years, I was a teenage pro at making mixtapes (and later mix CD’s). I’d give them to boyfriends (so embarrassing to think of those now!) and trade them with my friends. Usually the tapes/CD’s would include whatever songs were popular at the time, or songs that reminded us of a shared event […]
Music Therapy Treatment
When people learn that I’m a music therapist, one of the most common assumptions is that I only work with children in schools. But music therapy can be an excellent treatment option for a wide variety of physical and mental health challenges. Below are some highlights of a few common mental and physical health concerns […]
