Author: Erin

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Monday matters: Termination and transition

I was under the impression that my summer scheduling would be much easier, but I am wrong. The logistics of configuring schedules is really difficult, especially when I’m also integrating maternity leave at the end of the summer.

Because of my pregnancy, I am shifting around a few roles I have as a music therapist, and transitioning a few clients and groups to other therapists. I haven’t had too many instances in which I’ve terminated therapeutic relationships. I told one of my groups today that I would be leaving and that another therapist would be taking over for me, and the reaction was surprising.

Clinical termination and transition

“I don’t like change. I like you,” was one of the comments today that came from a client in a group that I will be transitioning. I held her hand and agreed with her that change is difficult. I assured her I would see her one more time. I felt guilty. I didn’t anticipate the group’s reaction correctly. A few of them seemed genuinely disappointed. I’m not sure why I thought the transition would be simple, but apparently I thought it would be less emotional. This being one of the first groups that I’ve transitioned or terminated, I clearly have a lot to learn, considering there are so many people in the mix.

Professional termination and transition

I have also decided to step away from being a guest blogger on Child Development Club as I have too little energy to adequately contribute any kind of quality writing. 

I’m hoping that I will find space in the upcoming months to fill in more projects, but at this point, my biggest challenge in my professional life looks like it’s going to be dealing with termination and transition.

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Song and artist share

I am so fortunate to have worked with a fellow music therapist here in the Twin Cities who is a fantastic singer-songwriter by the name of Lynn O’Brien. I bring her up because I found myself in a session today that simply needed to have within it one of her songs, called “Still.”

Please do yourself a favor and listen to an excerpt of this song here.

There are so many fellow music therapists who perform and record on a regular basis. Another of whom I need to share with you is Angie Kopshy, and I look forward to writing up on some of what she does in the near future! Please let me know if you’d like any other pairs of ears on your original music.

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Into the summer

I’ve been away over the Memorial Day weekend. I hope all has been well in your worlds.

I am scheduling for the summer. I have a somewhat looser schedule, starting in June, than I’ve had for a few months. Though I am preparing for my maternity leave in August, I am also taking on new clients and work projects now.

Please contact me if you are interested in knowing more about music therapy services.

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Process proves process

On Thursdays, I meet with my clinical supervisor via Skype. I always marvel at how much more clearly I can see my struggles while simply talking through them with my supervisor.

One of the bigger revelations I had during tonight’s session had to do with structure in the context of process-oriented work. I have had a lot of trouble articulating this challenge to myself, really, but I’ve known for weeks that this was a big question I needed to ask. Finding a structure in this new approach I’m adopting is daunting, and it is in and of itself a process. But, I have some clients who are children and some who have a history of trauma who quite simply need more structure than some of my other clients.

I don’t know where, but at one point I heard this story that relates to this question about structure. In the story, there are two playgrounds with children playing on them. One playground is surrounded by a fence. The children in this playground are playing all throughout the space, even all the way up to the fence. The other playground has no fence. The children in it are all huddled together in the middle of the playground, because, supposedly, they do not know where their boundaries lie, and they do not know how they can reach them.

I wonder how you build structure in your session. Of course I do maintain a structure, it’s just a little different than it has been in the past. Does the fence story resonate with you at all?

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More peer supervision to come

We had an excellent peer supervision group meeting this evening in which I met yet another music therapist here in the Twin Cities area and most of us got to know one another a little more. I love having this opportunity to be face to face with other music therapists, as I don’t have such a chance in my regular work week.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 26.

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.

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Tuesday song share: “Colors”

I’ve liked this song for a long time, and I’ve used it with groups in a few different ways. Alas, I couldn’t find a video, but this particular YouTube video does list the lyrics.

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Monday matters: Challenge

As much as I enjoy and appreciate themes, I’ve never been one to work inside them. This being said, the “Monday matters” posts are an attempt to focus myself on a topic throughout my working week.

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. 
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A creative writing component of music therapy

I am working with two clients who have both, over the past few weeks, been really interested in writing and illustrating. One client created a short songbook, complete with his own illustrations. Half of the songs are original, and one is even in another language (his stuffed animal’s). The other client is now on chapter three of what seems to have the potential for being a multi-chaptered story, as she calls it.

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? 

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Upcoming peer supervision group meeting

The next peer supervision group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at 7:00 PM.

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.

 

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Monday matters: Consistency

As much as I enjoy and appreciate themes, I’ve never been one to work inside them. This being said, the “Monday matters” posts are an attempt to focus myself on a topic throughout my working week.

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.