chal·lenge

[chal-inj] noun, verb, chal·lenged, chal·leng·ing, adjective

noun

1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.

2. something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.

3. a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.

4. a demand to explain, justify, etc.: a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.

5. difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it. (source)

Knowing challenge clinically

There are so many ways in which I acknowledge challenge in any working day. Challenge can manifest as resistance from clients. Challenge can come from logistical problems, such as scheduling make-up sessions. It can also show up when I am feeling physically pressed for energy.

I choose to use my theme this week as a verb, in that I am going to challenge myself to find more repertoire. I have never been one to have a huge library of music. I think this is so strange, given that I work as a music therapist. I create a lot of songs and music in my sessions with clients. The reason I say “create” and not “write” is because sometimes those songs will never be sung or played again; they were meant for only that one session and only that one client. Repertoire has always been a struggle for me, and so I’ll take this week to challenge myself in that area.

Knowing challenge professionally

As a small business owner, I have encountered a lot of challenge in organization and execution of tasks. I am still trying to find a suitable routine, which is proving to be difficult because my case load changes. One big challenge I’m putting to myself is to begin insurance reimbursement. I am looking forward to all of the steps that that has already begun to entail. I will be posting on my progress here.

I wonder how you therapists out there work with challenge. 

With both of theses clients, I am fully supportive of their exploring other creative modalities. I bring in the music part of our therapy by asking how one of the characters sound, and then encouraging the use of an instrument. I do this in different ways with either client, of course. I am impressed by the dynamic quality of the story that one of the client writes. I also love the creativity that the other brings to his own songs. Clients like these are ever-amazing me.

I wonder if any of you have ever paired music with creative writing. How did you do it? 

We meet to support each other anywhere we’re stuck clinically; we meet to share songs we’re using with our clients; we meet to make music together; and we meet to share ideas, resources, and thoughts on technology that we’re using.

Please feel free to contact me directly or find me on Twitter (@soundmattersmt) or Facebook if you’re a board-certified music therapist in the Twin Cities who would like to attend.

Finding consistency clinically

I’ve been working with two different populations over the past year or more. I work with groups of young children, ages infant to five, and I work with children and adults with developmental disabilities. Providing consistency plays a role in my work with both of these populations. With the children, my hope is to instill a structure that begins with an opening song, then moves into vocalizing and/or singing, then movement, instrument play, and closes with a similar closing song from week to week. In working with my other clients, my idea of consistency is personalized per the needs of each client. Some clients need a more rigid routine than others, and providing them some flexibility and autonomy inside that routine is sometimes a challenge I have. Other clients always request a certain song that I consistently provide. However I think the most important way in which I am consistent with these clients is that I try my hardest to be present, be open, and be aware each time I see them. These are important factors in my practice of consistency.

Finding consistency professionally

I could be doing more here. But, I’m trying to be consistent about organizing the peer supervision group here in Minneapolis. We’ve been meeting regularly since I was in my internship. I could definitely be working more toward CEUs and trainings, but at this point, I’m not.

I wonder about the ways you find consistency in your work week, either with clients or in business.

Though I’ve had my Square account for months, I’m just now finding it useful. I find a satisfaction in going to the bank and depositing checks, but it does take time and scheduling. Square frees all of that up, and deposits on the next day.

I wonder what other apps or methods you private practitioners use for notes, paperwork, and payment.

Finding patience clinically

One of the clients I see every week has drawn out of me a need to practice the patience with which I struggle more often than not. To be clear, I loosely define patience as listening to the client and supporting the client in the time frame he or she chooses. I try not to expect a behavior or a reaction or a vocalization in any given circumstance. However, I am not always aware enough to realize that what has happened with a client historically isn’t necessarily going to happen again. Two of the last sessions I’ve had with one particular client has proven that. Instead of enthusiastically engaging with an instrument as is normally the case, this client met the instrument and me with silence. Silence has its own set of challenges for me, and though I’m learning to embrace it more and more, I think I still find it threatening. Doing something seems to be so important, and silence doesn’t look as though something is being done. But it is. And in these silences, I had to remind myself of patience and presence, and being open to the client.

Finding patience professionally

Now that I am more than halfway through my pregnancy, I’m having to practice patience in determining my case load. I’ve decided I’ll need to pare down in some areas but build up in others. These decisions induce a lot of anxiety– again, I feel that I need to have it all done already– but on a very regular basis I have to remind myself to be patient.

I wonder if there is anyone else who struggles with practicing patience, clinically or professionally.