Speaking of music therapy, or I could say, "Freedom in music! Freedom through music! Freedom with music!" as my friend and mentor Roy Scoggins said in 1975. I want to share a bit about my vision of music therapy. However, I realize that in some circles the discussion of what is music therapy sets off many discussions, debates, and disagreements. I want to speak to a notion of, a big musicing helping profession. (For specifics regarding musicing see D. Elliot's writing or musicking see C. Small's writing.) Specifically, I really want to savor the many variations of music therapy practice around the globe and specifically in the United States, the place that I know a bit more about since I live and work here. I honestly feel that my training and development as a music therapist has taken many turns and spurts of growth, from my Undergraduate training to my study of Guided Imagery and Music, I see music therapy as one wonderful possibility for helping people in the moments of suffering that occur for all people.

That said did you know that music therapist work in hospitals for children, general medical hospitals, and psychiatric hospitals? Did you know that thousands of children around the US are helped right in their public school to learn and grow by music therapists? Did you know that music therapists are right now serving many families and their dying loved ones in the crystal still last moments of a person's life? Did you know that music therapists across this country have created through much hard work music therapy practices that serve adults with the many struggles that are faced in life? If you didn't know I do hope that I have created a bit of interest for you.

In my work for music journey I have aided children with problems of development, adults with cognitive difficulties, young adults with the trials and tribulations of surviving the last semester of college, adults and children challenged by family violence, people struggling with depression, people reaching for their next tier of development, and people struggling with divorce, separations, and loss. I can say that my life and music therapy path has been most blessed.

You see, at times music making or musicing with another person or in a group of musicers one gets a feeling of something new, a big possibility that success is really attainable. In other instances, creating through music a melody or the lines of a very personal song a person might just get a clearer picture of their life in that moment. Then again, with music people find the full range of musical and emotional possibilities, I will even go as far as to say, the full range of human experiences. Yes, I believe what I have experienced as a client in music therapy and as a music therapist many amazing moments with music as the catalyst for ease of mind, new possibilities, personal connections, and love.

I can close up this writing by saying that I hope you take a look around your hometown and you discover a music therapist and when you do please ask them, "Tell me about music therapy?"
With Love and Light all, Aaron

Men’s work through The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

I have been reflecting a bit this past week on my own experiences as a client in The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (also know as GIM or The Bonny Method) and as a music therapist who has experience and credentials to provide GIM sessions (). My love and trust in music has brought me grounding, a connection, and a way to express my emotions and feelings. Yet, at times as a younger man, I was certainly not as aware that emotions were present or even involved in my relationships and daily life.

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (), is a specialized music therapy method that utilizes deep focused music listening to aid a person in their health. A personal GIM session includes a conversation between the person wanting help (sometimes known as a client in “therapy speak”) and the GIM therapist. During this conversation they discuss the client’s needs, questions, problems, goals, and dreams. After the initial discussion the GIM therapist will assist the client to rest comfortably on a mat, table, couch, or comfortable chair. While seated or lying down the client is assisted by the GIM therapist to focus the client’s mind (through relaxation techniques and visual imagery). The GIM therapist chooses music for the client to listen to and experience. The client listens to the music chosen in the focused state of mind and reports her/his on-going experience to the GIM therapist. These experiences can be physical or body sensations, emotions, mental images, memories, or other types of experiences. During the music listening the GIM therapist verbally assists the client to focus on her/his on-going experiences. As the music ends the GIM therapist assists the client to return to a normal sense of awareness for a culminating conversation. During the culminating conversation the client and the GIM therapist discuss the client’s music listening experiences and how the experiences could benefit the client’s life. Some people find benefits from as few as six to ten GIM therapy sessions while other people find great help in more sessions.

As a man, I know that male emotional expression is sometimes feared, limited, denied, and/or totally frowned upon. However, I must say that through my own personal work in GIM I have discovered ways that I can really understand and live my emotions. I can’t say that it has been totally easy, but then again many things in life are simply hard work. Something, I imagine many men would agree with is that hard work brings many emotions and feelings to life on a daily basis. From the driving push forward of competition and a need to excel to disappointment and even sadness over a missed opportunity or big project that just didn’t happen in the way it was planned. I can now say that GIM has helped me to really understand my emotional responses and feelings, become more comfortable with expressing emotions, and create ways that I could be with my feelings in my regular day-to-day life.

I would like to also say, as one of the music therapist of Music Journey, LLC (), I have been privileged to be with and assist men in their individual growth and awareness of their emotions. I have seen and heard men describe deeper connections with their families, new commitments to career and entrepreneurship, and more comfort with the feelings and emotions they experience daily. My hope is to be able to help the men that come to me for help to accomplish their goals regarding emotions, relationships, careers, or other areas of life.

I thank you for taking time to read this post and I hope that you find some benefit in the information that I have tried to communicate. If you have any further questions about men and GIM or the services that, Music Journey, LLC () provides please feel free to contact me.

Aaron K. Teague

Music Journey, LLC music therapists regularly assist their clients to draw on the rich wealth that comes from dreamwork.

I have been working with my dreams for 18 years. I first noticed my dreams at a time of transition in my life where I was moving from one chapter in my life into a new phase of my life. For me a big dream at that time, announced a new level of freedom and a time of growth and exploration personally and professionally. I consider dreamwork an integral life practice. I believe that dreamwork is an integral life practice that promotes growth on many levels and lines of human development simultaneously.

I was professionally, introduced to dreamwork in my expressive arts therapy training. This included guidance on how to explore dreams personally, how to assist my clients work with their dreams, how diverse cultures understand dreams, and the psychological and physiological aspects of human dreaming.

My dreamwork mentors and teachers have been Harold McKinney, Joan Woodward, Sally Atkins, and John Van Auken. My understanding of dreams and dreamwork is influenced by the work of Jeremy Taylor, James Hillman, Carl Jung, Fritz Perls and my personal life experiences.

In my work as a music therapist and expressive arts therapist, I work to remind people of their dreams and assist people to use their dreams for personal development and health.

Please feel free to contact Music Journey, LLC () if you have questions about how dreams and music could help you improve your life.

Aaron Teague

Greetings,

I hope that if you're reading this you are interested in getting to know more about music therapy and how it may help to improve your life or the life of someone whom you love. My name is Aaron Teague and I want to introduce you to, Music Journey, LLC.

We specialize in working with young children suffering from developmental or behavioral problems, adults with problems of mental health, and people who have experienced domestic violence or intimate partner violence. Music Journey's music therapists take a collaborative and egalitarian stance in music therapy, so that the strengths of the people that we serve are highlighted in the music therapy process.

Music Journey is now taking referrals for new clients. A referral to Music Journey, LLC can be as simple as a phone call or an e-mail to me Aaron Teague.

Please feel free to take time to check out our web-page, , or contact me, Aaron K. Teague for more information.

Thanks for your time,
Aaron K.. Teague, MA, MT-BC, FAMI, REAT, LPC