You are different from the others that come in and play music

     I was doing a music therapy group for an assisted living facility in Eagle, Idaho.  I always work to make sure I am having meaningful interactions with the residents.  After the group one of the residents came up to me and said, "You are different from the others that come in and play music.  I feel like you are with us rather than above us." 
     I loved this.  I think in her own way she encapsulated exactly what I am trying to do with music therapy at an assisted living.  They have a lot of people who come in and play music for them.  I do music with them.  I'm not trying to perform.  I'm trying to interact with them.  I'm listening to their past with music, and I am learning what is meaningful to them.  I am sharing a part of myself through music and having them share a part of themselves.  In other words I use music to make connections.

Music therapy as a way to create a therapeutic relationship

A therapeutic relationship is key in any form of therapy.  If you don't have a trusting open therapeutic relationship, you can't make changes.  I am amazed at quickly a therapeutic relationship can be built through music therapy.

I am reminded of a person that I am working with who has had a lot of trauma in the past.  When she came in she was timid and had a difficulty expressing herself and what she wanted.  Then we played music together.  There was no words shared, just improvisational music.  The change after the music was significant.  Her thoughts were more organized, she had more confidence, and she opened up freely.  The music was able to quickly create a therapeutic relationship without any words.