{FAQ} What To Do Before Music Therapy
by • July 15, 2016 • FAQ • 0 Comments
This post is part of an ongoing series to answer questions that come up often in conversations with prospective or current clients, referral agencies, and community members. If you have a question you would like us to address, please leave a comment below or send us an email.
Today, we want to begin to answer the question, how do I get the most out of the time at music therapy and what can I do during the week to sustain what happened? If this is you, wonder no more! We are going to start with how to prepare for the session to be set-up for success. Sometimes, the best way to get the most out of the session, is to be ready to work when you arrive for music therapy. A little bit of prep goes a long way!
Plan Ahead
Think about the plan for your day, and what you need and want to get done. What are you planning on doing before and after music therapy? Think about your plans for week, and what fun and not-so-fun things you (or the client) will be doing. As I write this, it’s summertime and currently 91° outside. If swimming is the favorite summer activity, going after music therapy is a better plan than going before a session. Being in the water and out in the sun can make even the most active person feel worn out. Also, who wants to stop swimming before they absolutely must? Or maybe your child gets over stimulated at Costco, but you have to pick something up. Try coming to music therapy first, so they are ready for whatever Costco might throw at them!
The Drive Over
On the drive over to music therapy, listen to preferred music. You can even create a transition to music therapy playlist. (Check out “Using Music to Ease the Transition: Create a playlist”) This will help to mentally prepare for the music therapy session, as well as remind you of any new songs or types of music the client is loving lately. Take note (either mentally or written) about what’s being requested or how the client is responding. Is the new Meghan Trainor song playing on repeat? Is relaxing classical music helping to ease a stressful morning? Let your therapist know! This information is invaluable to us and will be incorporated into the session as appropriate.
Being On Time
Schedule is so important to many of our clients. If you are afraid of running late, leave a little early.
- You could sit in the car and enjoy some more preferred music before coming inside.
- Or come inside and have some time to adjust to the therapy center while relaxing in our waiting area.
- There are even some nice walking trails around our office, so you could get some energy out before coming inside!
Good Day vs. Bad Day
Sometimes, even with all the preparation in the world, “bad” days happen. Maybe it’s been a tough day at school/work or a thunderstorm that created some anxiety or a week that just seems like too much – and you may be tempted to cancel music therapy. Don’t do it! Sometimes the best sessions happen on what was previously labeled a “bad” day. Let the therapist know if it has been a hard morning or afternoon. This not only helps us to know how to best support the client that day, but it also provides an excellent opportunity to work on coping skills or relaxation techniques in the session that could be useful when the next challenging day rolls around.
