What is music therapy?

So, we took a little personality test in orientation. The test was written in response to the Meyers-Briggs test and is a little more fun as well as much less time consuming. I'm an otter. Adorable, yes? I know I am.

Anyway! Here's why I am an "otter":

Otters

Common traits
            they are:
                 - our entertainers
                 - a party waiting to happen
                 - visionaries
                 - eternal optimists
                 - motivational (people believe them)
                 - the fun bringers
                 - they tend to be: fast paced (easily bored)
                 - networkers
                 - people oriented
                 - quick starts but slow finishes
                 - bored by details
                 - good communicators
                 - people pleasers

Communication:
                 - surround an otter with positive feelings - don't harp

If you are an OTTER, caution:
                 - finish what you start - details DO matter

Why do we need otters?
                 - to make the world a fun place
                 - to have great ideas and visionaries
                 - so that we don't take ourselves too seriously

All that excitement is exhausting!!

Even though this was just a fun little thing to do... it is amazing how accurate this describes me. I am always coming up with (what I think are) great ideas... birthday parties, TV shows, trips, songs, etc. I often have to be reigned in as to what is actually possible to happen as opposed to the big huge ideas that formulate. I am someone who has a million bubbles popping up, ideas floating around all over, and I need someone who can come by and tie down all my crazy ideas and help me follow through with them. I can't work as a "sales person" probably because I feel like I would lose my mind AND paperwork is NOT my friend. However, I am exceptionally loyal and very good at selling the things that I believe in. In ever conversation I am a moment away from saying "Oh! Did you know the music therapy would be perfect for that?" or "Hey! My husband, sister, best friend is just the perfect person for that _____ (job/project/idea)." I always have been great at getting pumped up about an idea, wanting everyone to get excited too. Case in point? This past weekend I invited 20+ people on vacation to a home that really only comfortably sleeps 11. But I love big parties, lots of fun, and tons of activity. I invited people from all areas of my life... friends from college, high school, and work... everyone is welcome. And when friends wanted to back out of the weekend because they didn't know anyone, or didn't like so and so, or didn't want to sleep in a certain room... whatever, I will admit I am let down. I just want everyone to be happy, excited, and all together. So! I have to work on understanding that not everyone is an otter. There are those that are beavers (schedulers/detail oriented) or people that are lions (aggressive/task oriented) and that's ok.

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We are still trudging through orientation... but we had a highlight!! The music therapy orientation session! One whole half hour of "What is music therapy?" How do you condensce the awesomeness that is MUSIC THERAPY into just 30 minutes!? My orientation room was filled with CNAs, social workers, and administrators new to Seasons. I could see the skepticism on their faces. What a hard task!

Here's some brainstorming I did on what I would share, because I very well may be teaching about the therapy to someone at any point in time. I would cover a range of goal areas in hospice such as:

• Grief and bereavement
• quality of life
• life review
• social interaction - family and friend relationships
• weight loss
• anxiety, stress, and mental health issues
• pain management

• and more

All of which are proven to be effectively addressed by music therapy. Also, concerns of safety such as moving a client or staff support can be aided by music therapy. RAS (rhythmic auditory stimulation) may assist a client needing to walk from one place to another and decrease the risk of a fall. I would think that if another professional explained how their services could assist me and my services, I might be more open to their profession. Maybe?

Even though Seasons takes music therapy more seriously than I think many other institutions, the presenters (non-music therapists) have not really gone into dept on the music therapy profession. They have of course made sure to mention that music therapy is a tool to be used but I think that since the presenters are not music therapists it's not necessarily the first thing that pops up for them. The music therapist only had 30 minutes to teach the room about MT. That seems like such a limited time to shared all the possibilities of music therapy intervention!!  I would have wanted to show videos or statistics. I would want to handed out fact sheets like those on

• Alzheimer
• Pain management

provided by the AMTA would be fantastic. Or made my own! It's an opportunity to educate and market the profession. I want my colleagues in the room to fall in love with music therapy. To really know why I changed my whole life to go into this profession. I would want to share my passion... pass it on. But I'm sure I could have rambled forever. How do you effectively share information on music therapy in a timely and engaging manner?

I'm wondering... if you were given 30 minutes to teach a room full of various professionals about music therapy what would you say? What would you feel is important to share when teaching about our profession? Comments are requested please! I am sure in the future I will in fact have to do this. My otter personality wants to make sure everyone is thrilled about the possibilities with music therapy. What aspects need to be reigned in? What areas do you think are mandatory for a presentation?

Let me hear your thoughts!