PIEDMONT MUSIC THERAPY CLINIC & STUDIO
  • About
  • Music Therapy FAQ
  • Forms
  • SUMMER CAMPS
  • Lessons & Performance
  • Partners
  • Staff
  • Contracts
  • Contact
  • Continuing Ed
  • MT Coaching
  • ASC Info
  • Blog
  • Internship
  • Newsletters
  • Research Study
Picture
Private Practice Blog, started in 2013

PIEDMONT MUSIC THERAPY, LLC

Written by music therapists - board certified.

​Interested in a topic we have not yet covered? Please let us know.

Self-care: make it tangible

10/25/2019

0 Comments

 
Self-Care: Make It Tangible 
When I first reflected on writing this post about self-care, I thought that I would preach the importance of it. However, if you are reading this, I’m betting you are in someway related to the helping profession (as an administrator, teacher, clinician, facilitator, etc.) and already know that it’s important. I’m guessing you have gotten to a point in your life and/or career at some point and felt overwhelmed by your work because caring for people is hard and it requires much from you. 
The work we do in the helping profession is often intangible. We don’t always see results right away. Sometimes we may never see the impact we have made on a person’s life. This can wear on you. 
To combat this emotional toll of the intangible, I have a tiny little porch garden. It’s not much, just a tomato plant, a pepper plant, a few herbs and a few flowers. But for me, this is an act of self-care. This is planting something tangible, that I can see grow in real life. This is taking the time every morning and every night to connect with something that I can (literally) reap the benefits from. I can’t make the plants grow, but I can water them. Then I get to see them bloom! I’m not a pro at this gardening thing. In fact, I was halfway through the season before I realized you should cut basil and not pull it (who knew?!?). But it’s OK to be a beginner in this self-care practice. I’m going to keep trying and failing and learning and watching it grow. 
I hope that wherever you are in your life and career, that you have made a practice of tangible things - whether that’s an exercise goal you have created, a garden you have planted, or art that you create. May your self-care be finite, touchable, tangible. Because while the work you do daily may be intangible in many ways, the effect you have on your clients, your staff, your co-workers, it’s real. It matters. And so do you. So plant a seed, beat your average mile/minute pace, or paint your picture. Do it for yourself because tangible things are worth seeing and you are worthy of seeing tangible change.

What’s your favorite way to take care of yourself? Comment below and share about it in a tangible way!

0 Comments

National Grouch Day

10/15/2019

0 Comments

 
Compiled by Gretchen Benner and Miriam Tart:
Continuing with posts this year on the theme Musical Moments... were you aware that today is National Grouch Day?

It is important for music to express, what some may call, “negative” emotions. Feeling tuned into one’s emotions takes presence. Life often elicits a range of emotions and grouchiness may naturally surface. Much of our clinical work supports clients learning more about one’s own thoughts, feelings, actions and intersections of those.

CLINICAL SETTING:
“Many therapists with demonstrated expertise in addictions are of the opinion that effective treatment must involve . . . the uncovering, experiencing, and expression of many feelings – including distressing feelings of fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, sadness, anger, loneliness, regret, grief. etc.”
Reference: Gardstrom, S. C., Carlini, M., Josefczyk, J., & Love, A. (2013). Women with addictions: Music therapy clinical postures and interventions. Music Therapy Perspectives, 31(2), 95–104.

Music therapy can help you express your grouchiness…. and may actually turn into something fun through songwriting, instrument play, inspired artwork and more.

​Perhaps this tune particularly comes to mind, today?
​


Removing the label as a “negative” emotion could be helpful in thinking about the feeling of being grouchy. Transferring such an emotion into healthy activities can be beneficial as well as learning what factors contributed towards that feeling... any patterns or trends?

Thanks for reading today’s post recognizing National Grouch Day. Remember that our team will represent at two community events this weekend on October 19. We hope you’ll join us at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (DSAGC) Buddy Walk or National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Piedmont Tri-County 1 in 4 Walk to make music with our community bright and early on Saturday morning!!

0 Comments

    PMT, LLC

    Providing music therapy services for early childhood to older adults, music instruction and enrichment plus continuing music therapy education in Greater Charlotte Area of the Carolinas.

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Advocacy
    Camp
    Charlotte
    Conference
    Contract
    Fall
    Hospital
    Imagine
    Inservice
    Legislation
    Licensure
    Mental Health
    Museum
    Music Therapy
    Recital
    Save The Date
    Scholarship
    Summer
    Volunteers

    RSS Feed

Main Location

Picture
READY TO DISCUSS INTAKE PROCESS?
​
​

Call 803-206-2044.

What Our Clients Are Saying

"We appreciate all you do for our participants and look forward to working with you in 2022! You are awesome!
~Susan Bill, Exec. Director of Minds Matter

​"Thank you so much for the work you do year round! You spread so much joy throughout our facility!"
~ Staff Member 

"Melissa's visits are the highlights of my mother's week: her enthusiasm is infectious and she manages to get my mother singing, and more importantly, smiling."
~Daughter of an Adult Client receiving music therapy


Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • About
  • Music Therapy FAQ
  • Forms
  • SUMMER CAMPS
  • Lessons & Performance
  • Partners
  • Staff
  • Contracts
  • Contact
  • Continuing Ed
  • MT Coaching
  • ASC Info
  • Blog
  • Internship
  • Newsletters
  • Research Study