[skysblue]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever shared their emotions with T by music. Today I plan to play for T, songs that have represented moments in my emotional history and how those songs helped me. They also show more than simple words how intense the emotions were/are. I also plan on giving her the written lyrics to be sure she understands.

I believe emotions are very well expressed by music and also the poetry that accompanies the music. This will be new for me doing this and I hope T will be ok with it.

Has anyone else found this a useful way to use a session?

[trdleblue]

It's not something I have ever done, but it is an interesting idea. Music is important to me, and my tastes can change depending on my mood. A song may resonate with me, and I'll listen to it 20 times in a row to only listen to it again days later without the same impact.

I made xT a few cd's of music that speaks to me. Music is a passion for me and it can help to regulate my mood.

[skysblue]

Originally Posted by LolaCabanna

I made xT a few cd's of music that speaks to me. Music is a passion for me and it can help to regulate my mood.

Did you play them and discuss them in session?

[Sunne]

This is a great idea.

Sometimes I get the urge to email T a song about how I'm feeling or something that really connects to me.
He LOVES music but I don't have the gall to do it, yet.

[REEG]

Used to do this with old T when I was younger, it was a good way to start the discussion around emotions especially- found that it could (for me) become a substitute for talking. As long as it's a tool and not overrelied on, can be helpful. I'll use books or articles or pictures in much the same way

[skysblue]

Originally Posted by Sunne

This is a great idea.

Sometimes I get the urge to email T a song about how I'm feeling or something that really connects to me.
He LOVES music but I don't have the gall to do it, yet.

I'll let you know how it goes. One problem I am considering is that usually with music I feel compelled to get up and dance to it. So, am I going to dance in session too???????

Originally Posted by skysblue

Did you play them and discuss them in session?

No, she wasn't a very good T, hence XT...but I would have loved to. Let us know how it goes. Music is excellent medicine.

[skysblue]

Originally Posted by REEG

Used to do this with old T when I was younger, it was a good way to start the discussion around emotions especially- found that it could (for me) become a substitute for talking. As long as it's a tool and not overrelied on, can be helpful. I'll use books or articles or pictures in much the same way

Definitely not a substitute for talking. I am a compulsive talker so I would never be satisfied relying only on music.

Originally Posted by skysblue

I'm wondering if anyone has ever shared their emotions with T by music. Today I plan to play for T, songs that have represented moments in my emotional history and how those songs helped me. They also show more than simple words how intense the emotions were/are. I also plan on giving her the written lyrics to be sure she understands.

I believe emotions are very well expressed by music and also the poetry that accompanies the music. This will be new for me doing this and I hope T will be ok with it.

Has anyone else found this a useful way to use a session?

I haven't yet gotten up the nerve to play a song for T, but I will. But he plays songs for me all the time. I've found it to be a fairly powerful part of therapy. I agree with you about how music can be better than words when it comes to emotion. I think it will be a big thing for me when I can finally bring in a song and play it for T. I admire your courage that you're going to do this! I'm all for it .....

[skysblue]

Originally Posted by TheBunnyWithin

I admire your courage that you're going to do this! I'm all for it .....

Well, I haven't done it yet. I have session in 3 hours and I don't know why I'm nervous about doing this. Who knows if I'll really follow through.

One time I did initiate a poetry reading between T and me. I had selected the poems and we took turns reading them. It was an awesome session when we did that. I hope to have a poetry reading again sometime.

Originally Posted by skysblue

Well, I haven't done it yet. I have session in 3 hours and I don't know why I'm nervous about doing this. Who knows if I'll really follow through.

One time I did initiate a poetry reading between T and me. I had selected the poems and we took turns reading them. It was an awesome session when we did that. I hope to have a poetry reading again sometime.

I'd be nervous too - very nervous - but I don't know why. Other than the fact I'm basically a chicken.

Maybe the music thing will result in a good session like the poetry? I think it's cool to be creative in therapy. Like the other thread where someone sat in a different place, sometimes doing things differently can spark some interesting discussion.

I hope your session goes well. Right now is the time I would normally be in session but my T is off this week for a family reunion. Poop.

Good luck! Hope it goes well.

[rainbow8]

I love music so I think it's a great idea! I've played a couple of songs to some of my Ts through the years. I wanted them to know that a particular song moved me.

I think you may remember what I did with my current T that goes beyond playing music. I sang her a few of my favorite songs! All by myself. I don't know where I ever got the courage to do that because I don't like people to hear me sing. But after that, I got the courage to start a singing group!

Maybe you will get up and dance a little!

Good luck! I think we're always going to be nervous when we do something different in therapy.

[complic8d]

I haven't played any music, but i have brought in a lot of lyrics to songs. Sometimes the songwriter just says it so well! It helped to tell her some of the feelings without actually saying them out loud. I've also given her excerpts from books to read because, once again, the author says it better or writes about something that I don't dare bring up.
Go for it (even if you feel like dancing)!

[rainbow_rose]

I think it's an AMAZING idea!

I haven't played any music to T, but I've been keeping an art journal (at her suggestion, which I take in to show her) and a number of pages were inspired by/based on song lyrics that spoke to me at the time, or songs that evoked a feeling/that I related to.. Since starting therapy I think I take more notice of music in that way... And there are a lot of songs I connect with therapy now as they've been played on the radio during my long drives to and from T. I can kind of remember specific journeys/sessions when I hear these songs again, which can prompt me to reflect back on where I've been and how I felt at the time, and often think 'Yes, I have made progress...' other songs I link to little breakthroughs or shifts in perception/mood...

[skysblue]

It was great!!!!! I printed out the lyrics for each song for T to look at while song was playing. Before I played the particular music, I gave her the context of why it was important to me.

Towards the end of each song, I lowered the volume and talked more about how I felt while listening to song. And we ended each playing with discussion.

It was a wonderful way to share my feelings and have T experience a bit of how I had felt and how I feel now.

I think she really enjoyed approaching some of my issues this way. It was wonderful and I may do it again someday.