Resources for Music Therapists

I open group with playing “Satisfied Mind” live as they read over the lyrics (I am most familiar with the Jeff Buckley recording, but it has also been done by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and originally Porter Wagner). I then open up a group discussion about the overall message/takeaway from the song. 

After talking through themes of peace, contentment, immaterialism, etc. I pose the question to the group: “What does having a satisfied mind mean to you?” This question can lead into many different discussions, and will elicit very different meaning/responses from the members in the group. It’s important to validate what a “satisfied mind” means to each member of the group in the present moment. Group members may be at very different points in their life/recovery/journey-- which is okay! Some group members just won’t know what having a “satisfied mind” means to them yet, and it’s okay to still be figuring it out. I often note it’s okay to still be making sense of their world, especially so early on in their sobriety/recovery. 

After reaching a point in the discussion where group members feel they have established a sense of what having a “satisfied mind” means to them, I invite them to take a moment to reflect/be present/rest/relax/etc. while I read through the script “Just Be” (from the “Breaking the Habit” ebook, created by Morgan Nunberg, MT-BC/L: https://musictherapyinmotion.com/resources/breaking-the-habit/) and play live guitar underneath. By this point, I’ve also asked group members to select an instrument to play immediately following the script, if they so wished. 

After the script has ended, I add in at the end that when they open their eyes they may join the music (again, if they so wish, or they can keep their eyes closed and take in the music). The group and I then engage in improvised playing/vocalizing/singing, I often throw in improvised phrases that reflect the thoughts from group discussion or from the “Just Be” script (ex: “Gonna let myself just be/gonna let myself just breathe...”). 

Firstly, I open with the song “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by the Animals (originally performed by Nina Simone) and open up a discussion for group members to share their experiences with feeling misunderstood, isolated, or disconnected.

**I was in another therapist’s group, who her theme for the week was “emotional intelligence” and we also briefly discussed how emotional intelligence relates not only understanding others’ emotions, but your own, as well-- and how your own emotions may relate to others’ emotions (empathy).

After talking through their experiences, I introduce the song “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”. Many group members resonate with the lyrics of this song as well, so we may get into a discussion on the themes within this song as well before moving onto the songwriting section. 

I then introduce the concept of “interview songwriting” in which group members will pair off and interview their partners. From their interviews they will write a song in the first person from the point of view of their partner (in the song format of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”). ***I did not come up with this concept of interview songwriting-- it was I *believe* a concept created by Michael Silverman, PhD, MT-BC. I read in a Facebook post (that I think must’ve been taken down) that cites Michael Silverman as the presenter to the notes they took. I’d love any feedback on this if anyone has more information, as I want to give credit where credit is due!! The rest of this session was my own planning aside from this concept***

I give group members a couple of interview questions as well as a couple of options for how to format their songs (as they may need extra support or multiple options from which to approach this from). 

One approach I give is to write the song in chronological order of their life experiences (childhood → now). Another approach I give is I aligned the blank stanzas with the Stages of Change/Transtheoretical Model (1. Precontemplation; 2. Contemplation; 3. Preparation; 4. Action; 5. Maintenance; 6. Termination/Relapse). Through this approach, a group member may choose to talk about life before deciding to receive treatment, their experience throughout treatment, and their hopes for life after treatment. I emphasize to be creative with the approach, as there is no “right way”, and to just make it authentic and honest to your partner’s life experience. 

After interviewing, brainstorming, and creating our interview songs within the song format of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”, group members are invited to share their songs through having me accompanying on guitar while they sing, or with me singing/playing their creations for the group. 

Group members are then invited to share their experiences of interviewing and songwriting and to reflect on questions such as: “What did you learn about your partner?” “What was this experience like overall? What feelings/insights did it bring you?” Many group members stated learning a lot about the person they were paired up with, even group members who knew each other well prior to this songwriting experience. Group members also reflected on how this was “easier”/”better” than they thought it would be, and helped them to think more empathetically/compassionately towards themselves and others. 

I start this group out by passing out the lyrics to “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. 

After playing through it live, I invite group members to share thoughts on the lyrics and how they may relate to them/not relate to them. 

The topics discussed from this prompt can lead in many different directions, as this song is very rich and dense and full of imagery. 

Some topics discussed in my group were: 

1) Focusing on the usage of the term “illusions” and how we lived our lives in an illusion/fantasy/escape/etc. This topic also can lead into the concept of “surrender” and not being able to know our Higher Power’s will (connected to the 12 Steps of AA/NA). Specifically highlighting the repeated line “I really don’t know _____(clouds/love/life)______ at all”. *One group member discussed how she was still learning at an older age, and no matter how “figured out” she thought she had life, she always was readapting her reality/truth/point of view. The group discussed how this can be both scary and beautiful and how there are a lot a conflicting feelings in change/life in general. 

2) Memories of childhood or “simpler times” where we could be more present in our lives and were free from addiction. *A lot of group members stated how much harder it was now to be present and grateful for our current situation and to “enjoy the little things” life has to offer.

3) Letting go of people and situations that no longer serve us or that bring us harm. Understanding that there is loss with growth. *Particularly the line that captured this was “Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange/ And they shake their heads, they say I've changed/ Well something's lost, but something's gained/ In living every day”. 

***The focus of the group will vary with the group members and their own unique experiences, perspectives, insights, etc. Be open and patient with however the conversation progresses and be willing to accept anybody’s current “truths” with compassion and empathy.

I then bring the group’s attention to the orientation of time in the music. The singer sings from a past tense perspective-- almost as if she is looking back on a situation she has been through/overcome. *One group member related this to pushing past the clouds to the other side (over the clouds vs. under them). 

I invite the group to engage in a referential drumming circle in two parts. 

The first part is selecting an instrument that may reflect feelings/emotions of how we were living our lives prior to treatment. 

The second part is selecting an instrument that may reflect feelings currently during treatment or their hopes for feelings/emotions after completing their treatment. *Group members may choose to keep the same instrument or change their instrument when shifting from the first part to the second part, I just simply ask for any insights as to how they plan to express their emotions with either the same or different instrument. 

We then discuss any insights from both drumming circles (whether that’s related to their own playing, another group member’s playing, or the group as a whole). *In my group, many group members expressed feeling more “settled” and “in control” during the second drumming circle vs. the first one. 

“You Gotta Be” by Des’ree to open a group discussion on positive self-talk/positive affirmations and self-esteem.

This was a lyric analysis/song rewrite that I used with a women’s group.

I opened by playing through the song and having an open discussion about the overall message of the song/what is this song’s purpose? As a group, we came to the conclusion that this song was “uplifting”, “inspiring”, “empowering”, and was meant to “hype us up”. 

I then transition into talking about positive self-talk and the impact and importance of how we talk to ourselves on perspective, resilience, relationships, etc. *I note that self-sabotage is not just physical acts, but also mindsets/internal thoughts as well. 

After an open discussion on positive self-talk, I introduce “affirmations” through a positive affirmations worksheet that outlines how to write positive affirmations.

I let the group brainstorm affirmations they wish to create for themselves based on areas they feel they want to focus on (e.g. confidence, relationships, fear, health, etc.)

After sharing our areas of focus and our corresponding affirmations, I go back to the song “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree and provide an opportunity for connecting our affirmations to the song/re-writing the song to fit our affirmations. 

Being flexible, open, and responsive is particularly important for this part of the discussion, seeing as my group was so attached to the song they did not want to rewrite the lyrics! We ended up having a discussion about which specific lines in the song matched up with our own affirmations (e.g. the song states “you gotta be bad” and one member connected this to her affirmation “I am confident”).

We ended group by playing the song live together on instruments/singing to solidify our positive affirmations/positive self-talk and to “put into action” what we created during the session.

    About the author: I am a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) working in an addiction treatment center. I would like to use this page to share some interventions that have been received well by the patients that I work with in the hopes that other music therapists in my field may be inspired and feel supported in their work. Feel free to adapt the interventions I share, I would like to be a good “jumping off point” and/or resource to other MTs, specifically working in addiction/mental health. I am by no means an expert, and am still very new to the field, but I hope to share some of the knowledge I have acquired during my time in the field. 

Utilizing the song “I am a Rock” by Simon & Garfunkel to open up lyric analysis and open discussion on feelings of isolation.

I start this group by having the group members read along to the lyrics to “I am a Rock” as I play it live.

I then open up a discussion on thoughts about the lyrics/anything that stands out/ the overall message of the song.

Usually this goes into a conversation about the interesting use of the narrator describing himself as a “rock” and an “island” and why they chose to describe themselves in this way/how the group connects to those statements. 

The conversation usually shifts to feelings of loneliness and isolation and how feeling like a “rock” or an “island” is a defense mechanism to avoiding feelings of pain, grief, trauma, rejection, etc. 

We then transition to a conversation on feelings of connection, why connection is important not only to recovery but to healing and resilience. 

Prompt: “What would connection feel like?” 

I then talk about how music is a great connector, usually citing that it has been studied that people in choirs sometimes sync heart rates because they are so connected in the music 

(Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23230411#:~:text=Choir%20singers%20not%20only%20harmonise,down%20at%20the%20same%20rate.)

Group members engage in a drum circle (feel free to adapt this any way you would like-- referential/non-referential/introduction to drumming/etc.)

Group discussion of experiences within the drum circle

Group discussion of how we could incorporate “connection” in our lives more

Closing song on the theme of “connection” (such as “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor for example).