Guided Imagery and Music FAQ’s part 3
In the final installment in this series on music therapy, I’ll answer another FAQ about my practice in particular– exactly who are my clients?
Music Therapy
So let me start by giving a little bit of background information. When I’m giving presentations to groups or community organizations about music therapy, I often make the analogy that the profession of music therapy is like that of accountants or attorneys or engineers. Like those other professions, music therapists all receive basically the same foundational education at the bachelor’s degree level. Then we each individually decide in what specific area we want to practice/specialize, such as eldercare, mental health, hospice, or children with disabilities just to name a few. It’s very much like how an attorney can choose to specialize in family law or corporate law or trial law.
Specialty
My area of specialty is GIM. And within that specialty area, I work primarily with adults who are dealing with life transitions. Those can be situations like divorce, relocation, relationship issues, loss of loved one, or an empty nest. Some of my clients come to me for personal growth. They don’t have a significant mental health diagnosis, but they simply want to improve themselves and their lives. Some of my clients seek out music therapy to help deal with pain issues related to medical diagnoses like cancer treatments, fibromyalgia, or physical injuries. Some clients come looking for an alternative way of dealing with their depression and/or anxiety. And some are caregivers whose loved one has Alzheimer’s, and they simply need a way to manage their stress and work through those difficulties.
Therapy Treatment
The course of music therapy treatment varies with each client. Some have issues that can be resolved with short-term therapy (less than 6 months) while others need longer to work toward resolution. Part of that equation depends on the individual’s diagnosis and purpose for seeking out my services. And part depends on their willingness to go through the process of change. I often use the analogy of weight loss when discussing this. If you only have 20 pounds to lose, it won’t take you very long to reach your goal. If you’ve got 100 pounds to lose, it will take longer. However, both scenarios depend on the person’s willingness to make the necessary lifestyle changes. And the same can be said for any therapy process. What you put into it is what you’ll get out of it.
Usually I see clients weekly or bi-monthly, depending on where we are in their therapy process. Sometimes I’ll have clients who see me monthly for “maintenance” to keep them on the right track and making positive progress. And some clients call me once or twice a year for a “tune up” session. The length and duration of treatment is something I frequently discuss with my clients, and we make a plan that’s suitable for their particular situation.
Hopefully this GIM FAQ series has answered many of your questions as well as provided you with useful information about what it is and what I do. Feel free to send me questions privately or leave a comment on this post if you want to know more. I’m always happy to answer questions!
