“Because I’m not seeing patients face to face on site, it’s been a huge adaptation to using a virtual model. It’s definitely not the same, but I like still being able to communicate with patients and support them using the creative arts.
What we can’t replace is the live music making and that face-to-face psychotherapy.
Older patients in particular are a bit resistant to the use of technology. They feel there is an artificial component to it that makes it a bit uncomfortable.
It’s really difficult to gauge people’s reaction to music therapy when you’re looking at them through a screen. You don’t get the whole picture. One of the profound things about in-person music therapy is that vibration can be very therapeutic. So when I’m seeing someone, vibration, breath-matching, and following someone’s vital signs in real time is one of the most important things and I can’t do that right now.
I’m really missing human reaction and being able to adapt to that human reaction.
I am piloting virtual song writing, where I’m taking people’s words and ideas and turning them into songs and sending it back to them. We workshop back and forth and come up with this finished product, which is written for a family member or loved one.
I’m super grateful for my team and how collaborative everyone has been. We’ve become even closer than ever before because we’ve had to navigate such new and challenging things together.”
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