The Story of Song Therapeutics

       On an individual basis, I utilize a variety of music and song playlists to process my own personal thoughts and feelings on a regular basis. It has always made a substantial, positive difference in the quality of my life.  In what I considered an enlightening moment working with a struggling client several years ago, I realized that music and song lyrics that carry truly meaningful messages. It is such a perfect way to connect with people’s emotions and reach them effectively, in an enjoyable, comfortable way. I then started to utilize specific songs with mindful lyrics within individual therapy sessions on a regular basis. I chose songs that I felt reflected my client’s needs and struggles, songs they could relate to, and that would help them process their thoughts and feelings, helping them to put them into words. When they were verbally unable to identify and express what they felt, the songs made it easier to specify their particular issues and pain. And for necessary follow-through, my clients could remember those songs and use them consistently via personal playlists when needed outside of their sessions. Basically, everything in this process fit in so well with what I was looking for. On a therapeutic basis, I found the results to be quite a remarkable tool to utilize, reach, and assist my clients with their individual problem areas. As a result, I consistently began offering it to those clients who I deemed appropriate and could benefit from the concept, were interested, and enjoyed using music within their therapy sessions. I subsequently received substantial ongoing positive feedback from them about the process and playlists and how much they felt this made a marked difference in the quality of their lives.

As time went on, based on evaluating these successful outcomes within my practice, I seriously started thinking about all the benefits of recommending songs and playlists with meaningful lyrical messages with accompanying life skill themes to everyone, even if they were not specifically receiving my counseling therapy. Couldn’t everyone basically benefit from this helpful, enlightening information and self-discovery? Hence, as the name implies, the Song Therapeutics concept was born, and this has been the foundation for this book. It has become a major focus for me since then, both professionally and personally. Today, we all need ongoing positive, proactive, comforting messages and life lessons, whether we are involved in a counseling therapy journey or not. Especially now, with the reality of adjusting to major lifestyle changes brought on by the Covid pandemic which has truly enveloped our world. We all continue to need unwavering faith and hope. We need encouragement to keep going, to believe better things are ahead. We need to stay in tune with our emotions. We need to stay strong and never give up. The multiple benefits of the musical experience cannot be denied. Who doesn’t want to attempt to understand or make things better in their life and their emotional journey? What have we got to lose? One extremely efficient, yet easy, and enjoyable vehicle available to provide it is undoubtedly music and meaningful song lyrics. I believe you will find the content in this book enlightening and empowering. I think it will really speak to you. Be open-minded, reflect, listen, process, heal, learn… and as we do it, let’s all acknowledge the many benefits from this musical ride and definitely enjoy it!!!

*For more detailed information on my private practice, please feel free to go to my therapy webpage, wnyomnicounseling.com