We've all heard people who say they "don’t believe in therapy” or that “therapy doesn’t work” for them. I've also heard people say they think therapy is "just about focusing on the past” or "just sitting & complaining for an hour" or who question how "just talking is going to fix anything." I've heard things like this both before and since becoming a therapist myself, and both before and since being in therapy myself. And through my experiences as both a practitioner and a patient, through years of both clinical work and research, I have definitely learned and experienced these statements not to be true...and thank God for that. The truth is there are SO many different forms of therapy out there & SO many different types of therapists with a range of styles & personalities that I do believe - much like finding a relationship that clicks - we can all find a therapist or mode of therapy that fits for us. Therapy isn’t just focusing on the past - sure that is woven in there - but it’s also about being totally & completely in the present moment. Therapy doesn't just involve talking - sometimes it’s mostly about feeling, or even just being…in silence with another human being. Therapy can involve music or art or physical movement and body work, with minimal talking at all. Therapy is about compassion, understanding, changing behaviors or owning & loving the behaviors we have. It’s about knowing yourself & learning to be wholly & completely connected to the person you are (flaws & all)...which I also think helps us to be more wholly & completely connected to others. But no matter what the form, it is true that therapy will not "fix" everything - nothing in our lives can do that. But it can be another resource we use to get through and learn from the rocky times that we will all experience in life. And it can incorporate some of the things we love most, some of what is out there and available to us every day, as part of our healing journey. To me, music is and always has been one of these things.
"One of the most poignant early images of the coronavirus pandemic was of Italians playing music and singing from their balconies even as the virus ravaged their cities." Music has the ability to connect, to unify, and to heal; to spread joy and to help us share in pain. It has also been found to activate neural pathways in the brain that, not only help with emotional healing, but cognitive processes and physical ailments as well. If that is not therapeutic, then I'm not sure what is. Music can be a specific form of therapy, or it can be incorporated into therapy, or it can be used as just a helpful outlet or adjunct therapy.
These past few months, I've revisited a lot of these areas - past/present, thinking/feeling, cherishing/letting go. I've re-engaged with therapy again to address some old, resurfaced wounds as well as some new bumps int he road. And I realized that one of the most therapeutic things for me during this time, and one of the most consistent outlets throughout my life, has been music, especially live music. As a specific form of therapy, or in addition to more formal therapy, music can have the power to heal unlike anything else. There is nothing that helps me feel, connect, let go & be totally present than music. This summer we saw everything from John Williams to Axle Rose & I loved every minute of it. For a few hours - or even just one song - troubles vanish.
"Music is a fundamental part of our evolution, allowing for unique expressions of social ties." During a time when we might feel more fractured, internally or societally, music can serve as a unifying factor. So next time you hear someone say or you think to yourself that "therapy doesn't work" I hope you take note of ALL the different forms of therapy out there that are available to you, and all the different ways in which you might incorporate or already be incorporating therapeutic outlets into your life. Music, other forms of art, nature... are all available to us every day and always have been. If we take time to notice them and experience them more mindfully, if we look for a therapist that incorporates them or we choose to incorporate them on our own, they can really work wonders.
"One of the most poignant early images of the coronavirus pandemic was of Italians playing music and singing from their balconies even as the virus ravaged their cities." Music has the ability to connect, to unify, and to heal; to spread joy and to help us share in pain. It has also been found to activate neural pathways in the brain that, not only help with emotional healing, but cognitive processes and physical ailments as well. If that is not therapeutic, then I'm not sure what is. Music can be a specific form of therapy, or it can be incorporated into therapy, or it can be used as just a helpful outlet or adjunct therapy.
These past few months, I've revisited a lot of these areas - past/present, thinking/feeling, cherishing/letting go. I've re-engaged with therapy again to address some old, resurfaced wounds as well as some new bumps int he road. And I realized that one of the most therapeutic things for me during this time, and one of the most consistent outlets throughout my life, has been music, especially live music. As a specific form of therapy, or in addition to more formal therapy, music can have the power to heal unlike anything else. There is nothing that helps me feel, connect, let go & be totally present than music. This summer we saw everything from John Williams to Axle Rose & I loved every minute of it. For a few hours - or even just one song - troubles vanish.
"Music is a fundamental part of our evolution, allowing for unique expressions of social ties." During a time when we might feel more fractured, internally or societally, music can serve as a unifying factor. So next time you hear someone say or you think to yourself that "therapy doesn't work" I hope you take note of ALL the different forms of therapy out there that are available to you, and all the different ways in which you might incorporate or already be incorporating therapeutic outlets into your life. Music, other forms of art, nature... are all available to us every day and always have been. If we take time to notice them and experience them more mindfully, if we look for a therapist that incorporates them or we choose to incorporate them on our own, they can really work wonders.