Musical Health

I was so inspired by my recent conversation with Stephanie Leavell and I am sure you will be too! Listen to learn about Stephanie’s journey to music therapy, her process of intentional songwriting and how there are TWO music therapists in her family.  Minute 35-literally blew my mind and I now dream of joining Stephanie’s band. Stephanie believes that music is a great communicator and she uses all elements of music to communicate. Her music has something for all children to engage with as she expresses the intention of the song using rhythm, lyrics, melody and instrumentation.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Henley. Amanda is a board certified music therapist, researcher and educator in the state of Indiana. She also serves as the Indiana Task Force for Music Therapy Advocacy Chair. Amanda and I sat down to talk about the music therapy and art therapy licensure protection bill that is up this legislative session. This is the closest they have been to passing this bill in years and the task force could us all of our help to reach out to local representatives to tell them about the importance of title protection for both therapists and those they serve. The information below will guide you through the process

A bit more about Amanda

Amanda Henley is a native Hoosier, married to her music loving husband Jason, mom of twins, and in her 21st year as a board certified music therapist. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The Florida State University. Amanda worked in educational and community settings to support children and adults with disabilities. She also worked as a Research Associate at Indiana University coordinating and overseeing music therapy research in pediatric cancer. Currently, Amanda is a visiting lecturer at the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Music and Arts Technology Program.

Call to Action

Please help build awareness and support for SB 338 – Music Therapy Licensure! Our bill has passed out of the Senate and is headed to a House committee. We have three steps left! 1) Passing the bill out of committee, 2) Passing the bill out of the House, and 3) Signature by the governor. Please help us contact as many House representatives as possible during the month of March!

On this months episode, Caitlin sits down with songwriter and therapist, Monica Metzler.  Conversation centers on grief, songwriting and all the magic in between. 

Forest Veil is the solo work of Portland, Oregon multi-instrumentalist/producer Monica Metzler. Following the echoes of her elusive muse, Forest Veil makes mystical psych-folk that maps the emotional terrain of humanity and its place in the cosmos. Melding a voice that sounds like smokey quartz with psychedelic guitar riffs and enigmatic lyricism, Forest Veil’s sound evokes a haunting nostalgia for other worlds. Though she primarily writes on her own, Forest Veil records and performs with others. An avid guitarist for over 20 years, Forest Veil's music showcases virtuosic guitar shredding and dynamic musicality.  Forest Veil's music has been placed in Coach ads, movies, and TV shows such as Blacklist.

Ritual Light, the newest EP from Forest Veil, was released on July 28, 2022 on Spirit House Records. The track “Phoenix” on Ritual Light, is written for Ian Mouser, who founded My Voice Music 13 years ago. Mouser, Metzler’s mentor, boss and friend, was tragically hit by a car while biking across the US in October 2021. Through his work with My Voice Music, Ian Mouser inspired thousands of youth to create, write original songs, and release them. Metzler wrote “Phoenix”, in his honor, and to give voice to her own pain and grief. She continues to inspire youth, who are experiencing trauma and living in the margins, to alchemize their pain and emotional experiences, into music and expression.

On today's episode we explore what road rage is and discuss the implications of music on our driving behavior. Full transcription of this episode available by emailing: musicalhealththepod@gmail.com

Upcoming Conference Presentations

Join Caitlin as she explores how rhythm can help our bodies feel less stressed. Did you know that our brains can sync up with rhythms?! This episode reviews the current evidence on use of rhythm to reduce stress and explores the implications of rhythm in our lives.

In episode 34, Caitlin sits down with clinical research specialist and music therapist, Jessica MacLean to gain insight into the world of music and auditory science. Have you considered the implications of music in auditory processing and speech? The interplay of the two are complex, and Jessica does a great job of explaining using her background in research and working in an auditory neuroscience lab. She describes cochlear implants and the use of music to distinguish sounds, dives into the unique role that rhythm plays in hearing and speech and shares her personal experience with tinnitus (which you will hear me struggle to pronounce). She describes what to look for in patients who are at risk for sound sensitivity- and a startling rich discussion about the triangle-you are going to want to tune in for that discussion!

We hope you enjoy this episode of musical health!

Jessica MacLean, MM, MT-BC is a clinical research specialist at the Indiana University School of Nursing. She acts as core project manager for the BIO-MUSE Study (@sherirobbteamresearch) investigating biological effects of an active music engagement intervention for children with cancer and their caregivers (R01NR019190). She received her Master’s in Music Therapy from the University of Miami, where she completed thesis research with children with hearing loss. Prior to her Master’s, Jessica worked as a research assistant for the Auditory Neuroscience Lab at Northwestern University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Violin and Neuroscience from Indiana University.”

Resources discussed in this episode:

For today's episode I had the chance to interview Toronto based music therapist and business owner, Miya Adout. Her company: Miya Music Therapy provides music therapy for people of all abilities. In the episode Miya talks about her company and a service that is near to her heart: senior mental health. 

Ashley Scheufler is a senior music therapist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where she has been employed for almost 12 years.  She works with a wide range of pediatric patients and specializes in chronic pain syndromes, cardiac, and pulmonary diagnoses.  Ashley has participated in several research initiatives at her facility and served as a music intervener in studies funded by the NIH, COG, and the National Institutes of Nursing Research that focused on children undergoing treatment for cancer.  Her latest research endeavor, “Comparing Three Music Therapy Interventions for Anxiety and Relaxation in Youth with Amplified Pain” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Music Therapy.  This study examines the effects of three specific music therapy interventions on anxiety and relaxation levels in youth with chronic pain conditions.  Ashley serves on multiple interdisciplinary treatment teams and other hospital-based work groups including the Psychosocial Division Research and Scholarly Work Council.  Ashley is energized and inspirited by her husband and two children, and grounded by yoga and live music.

On today’s episode I speak with Jenny Kaufman, music therapist on the Heart Center and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. We discuss what it is like for patients on the heart center and the music based interventions used in Jenny’s work with these patients.

Jenny is an accomplished music therapist with nearly 8 years of pediatric medical music therapy experience and advanced training in NICU music therapy as well as Neurologic Music Therapy.

All proceeds from the playing of this episode will be donated to https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/

This episode covers the topic of music and spirituality. This episode explores the definition of spirit and the multitude of ways and explores how we can cultivate our spirituality through music not only in ourselves but also those we work with.

Some resources used for today’s episode:

Aldridge, D. Music Therapy and spirituality: A transcendental understanding of suffering. Music Therapy Today, 2003

This week I will be sharing my personal experience with COVID-19. I will also be discussing compassion fatigue and burnout.

References for today’s episode:

Check out the Tend Academy: https://www.tendacademy.ca/

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Today the podcast takes a deep dive into the concept of self-expression. In the world of music you hear “express yourself” and in music therapy “self-expression” is a very common goal area is to support healthy and creative self-expression. But what is self-expression really? What does it mean? This episode explores these topics.

A reminder that the ideas presented in this episode are rooted in western medicine and psychology and will not apply to all cultures. Additionally, music therapy is the use of music within the therapeutic relationship with a board certified professional and music medicine is the application of music for health and wellness. If you or your loved one would benefit from additional support you can find a music therapist near you by visiting cbmt.org

Ann Hannan, MT-BC, is a board certified music therapist and developed the first music therapy clinical program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health beginning in 2000. She has been the director of the Riley Cheer Guild and Music Therapy Programs since February 2016. With over 20 years of pediatric music therapy clinical expertise, Ann specialized in neonatal and infant intervention. She has presented at local, state, regional, and national conferences on topics such as infant development and bonding, family-centered care practices, professional collaboration, clinical service triage methods, music therapy program development, music therapy advocacy, medical ethics, and professional self-care. Ann supervises the pediatric music therapy clinicians at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana and serves on various hospital-based committees with a special focus on enhancing the hospital experience for patients, their families, and the staff who care for them.

She completed her medical ethics fellowship in 2015 with the Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics. Ann currently serves as an at-large member on the state board for the Spina Bifida Association of Indiana and as a national advisory board member for the Ukulele Kids Club organization.

Join me today as I chat with Music Therapist Amy Love. Amy Love is a music therapist that is incredibly passionate about pediatric, medical music therapy! She established a music therapy program at a nationally recognized children's hospital and currently specializes in work with patients with solid tumor and neuro-oncology diagnoses. Amy is also the Founder of Pediatric Music Therapy, a website that aims to make the medical world more accessible to music therapists.

This week I discuss managing patient caseloads. 

Resources mentioned in the show: 

In this episode I dive into using music for the professional musician's health and wellness. 

Resources

Today's episode touches on the health benefits of music making for the novice or advanced musician 

Resources for this episode:

Singupfoundation.org

NAMMfoundation.org

Join me for a three part series for self-care! Part 1 we discuss aspects of music listening for health and wellness. This includes facts and tips for engaging with music in your life!

"After the Music" music therapy workbook available at: 

Aaron is 4th year medical student at The University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine (and my amazing brother in law). He recently matched into anesthesiology residency at Northwestern University where he will begin training this summer. He graduated from Cornell University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Biology and Marine Biology. In his free time he enjoys singing, brewing beer, and baking the perfect sourdough loaf. His research interests include obstetric anesthesia and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Aaron hopes to address the shortage of minority physicians by serving as a mentor and positive role model for young minority students interested in medicine.

In this episode I have the chance to speak with Dr. Kate Myers-Coffman,  2019 Recipient of the Arthur Flager Fultz research award and postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University.  She takes us through her journey from singer-songwriter to music therapy and researcher. Her clinical work and research focus on developing and evaluating strength-based music therapy interventions for youth who have experienced trauma and loss. 

Podcast References

Baker, F. A. (2013b). The ongoing life of participant-composed songs within and beyond the clinical

This week I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Natasha Thomas

Natasha Thomas, PhD is an MT-BC and faculty member at IUPUI, and steering committee member for the Black Music Therapists Network.

Her current research focus is on the relationship between social identity and the music making choices of Black/African American youth from limited resource communities, as well as the Black professionals who serve them. Her research and clinical work are inclusive of disability and queer identities, and the unique ways those perspectives can intersect to impact quality of life and meaning making.

 Black Creative Healing landing page: 

• blackcreativehealing.carrd.co

Download links to  Identity Pie Chart doc: