Mental Health

The Dangers of Labels and Perceptions

October 8, 2015
Thumbnail image for The Dangers of Labels and Perceptions

This post is inspired by two completely different media pieces that I have read/watched in the past 24 hours. The first is a blog post published on Parents.com imploring professionals and non-professionals to stop using the terms “low functioning” and “high functioning” to describe children on the spectrum. The second, a segment that aired on […]

0 comments Read more…

[Guest Post] The Importance of Testing Treatments for Mental Illness Before we Sell Them

March 13, 2014
Thumbnail image for [Guest Post] The Importance of Testing Treatments for Mental Illness Before we Sell Them

I read an interesting exchange on a Facebook feed recently between this author, clinical psychologist and researcher Dr. Michael Anestis, and some of my music therapy friends and colleagues about the perceived state of music therapy research. The exchange, though unresolved, was enticing enough that I reached out to Michael and invited him to share […]

1 comment Read more…

[PsychToday] Music Therapy for our Soldiers

February 27, 2014
Thumbnail image for [PsychToday] Music Therapy for our Soldiers

My first non-familial encounter with veterans was as a soon-to-be sophomore in college, two days shy of moving to Iowa City as a transfer student and new music therapy major. I had just learned about music therapy and had spent the past month turning my life upside-down to transfer to the University of Iowa to […]

0 comments Read more…

[VIDEO] A Song for Those Who Feel Like They “Aren’t Listened To”

December 8, 2010

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a video post! But this song was too good–and too beautiful–NOT to share with you. It needs no further introduction. Enjoy 🙂

6 comments Read more…

Is It Just Me, Or Does This Really Work?

August 12, 2010
Thumbnail image for Is It Just Me, Or Does This Really Work?

You may recall that, in addition to this blog here, I also blog at Psychology Today–though not nearly as often! 🙂 This morning I published a story about an experience I had a couple years ago where I was able to use music to calm two boys in an active “fight, flight, or freeze” response. […]

3 comments Read more…

8 Tried-and-True Ways to Promote your Health and Well-Being

August 25, 2009

On Saturday, Janice Harris of the Music Therapy Show with Janice Harris had me on her show to talk about secondary trauma and self-care. We had a wonderful discussion. And it’s not too late to listen to the show! Click here if you are interested. I’ve already had feedback from several people about the show. […]

2 comments Read more…

Tune In to Secondary Trauma and Self-Care

August 21, 2009

Tune in to The Music Therapy Show with Janice Harris tomorrow, Saturday August 22nd at 3pm MST (5pm EST, 4pm CST, 2pm PST). I was on the show about 2 months ago talking about my work with trauma-influenced children. A listener asked how I keep from experiencing secondary trauma. In other words, what are some […]

0 comments Read more…

Book Review: Ghosts From the Nursery

August 13, 2009

I have a confession – I actually wrote this book review about a year ago for the biannual newsletter of the Colorado Association for Music Therapy (or CAMT). But, the book had such an effect on me and my practice that I wanted to share it with you. So…here you go: Ghosts from the Nursery: […]

2 comments Read more…

And the Music Calmed Them

August 11, 2009

This is a post about mental illness. I know a little about mental illness and children, given that I work primarily with trauma-influenced kids. I know less about adult mental illness. But my husband and I just watched the movie The Soloist last night, which got me thinking. (The Soloist, by the way, is a […]

0 comments Read more…

← Previous Entries