Music therapy

Personal growth in a creative way

Music therapy is an interdisciplinary profession that serves as a bridge between science and art. It is about using music to achieve therapeutic goals: preserving, maintaining and improving mental and physical health. It is the systematic application of music under the guidance of the music therapist in a therapeutic environment in order to bring about desired changes in behavior. These changes allow the patient to experience a greater understanding of himself and the world outside of him and, as a result, a better adaptation to the environment.

Shall We Begin

"Music expresses what cannot be said in words and cannot be silenced"
( Victor Hugo )

I believe wholeheartedly in therapy that combines music and voice. When I underwent standard psychotherapy in the course of which I just talked about things (this was of course very important) but often the discourse remained in the realm of intellect and cognition only. I could talk about painful topics – but I remained detached from my emotions.

For there to be a significant change, I believe one must also connect to emotion.

When integrating voice, music or other artistic means into therapy, it is impossible to remain disconnected from emotions. Art instantly connects us to our subconscious and to our emotions. These connections accelerate the process of personal growth and enable understanding, "token fall" and finding creative solutions that we would not otherwise reach.

The two main things we emphasize in therapy are: 1) connecting to the inner and creative forces of the person who comes for treatment (the consumer) , and 2) working with the challenges that life presents him/her.

In order to use music and voice therapy, there is no need for innate talent or prior knowledge and experience in the arts. In music therapy sessions, music is used only as a means to achieve emotional goals and improve mental health. We play and improvise on various musical instruments (as mentioned, no prior knowledge is required), write songs, listen to music that the patient chooses, sing and improvise vocally. Sometimes the patient chooses additional ways of expression (conversation, psychodrama, acting, storytelling, painting, or sculpture).

It is important for me to emphasize that the nature of the sessions is adapted to the needs of the person seeking treatment. Each person is unique and special, and each person has different needs in the encounters.

The use of music and voice makes it possible to transform the pain and turn it, for example, into a healing song, with a beginning, middle and end. From an overwhelming and intrusive initial experience, we move on to a beneficial experience with clear boundaries and internal aesthetics. This, of course, is with the containment and attachment of the therapist who helps the patient carry things together.

The Vagus nerve takes an active part in balancing the nervous system in situations of emotional overload and entry of the body into a state of

FFF (Fight Flight Freeze). When we sing, we put the Vagus nerve into action and help regulate the nervous system. In this way, we reduce the possibility of PTSD. If we have already been diagnosed with PTSD, singing can help us cope with the symptoms and eventually, hopefully, with the help of other means, to free ourselves from the trauma.

Connection to the subconscious and deep layers of the psyche;

Understanding unconscious thought, patterns and behavior;

Emotional expression and naming of emotions ;

Channeling emotions (sublimation) ;

Modifying and improving behavioral patterns;

Improving the ability to concentrate and focus attention;

Flexibility of thought patterns;

Understanding social situations ;

improvement of self-image and self-esteem ;

Effective coping with overwhelming situations;

Improvement of internal organization ;

Improvement of the capacity of inner listening and listening to others;

Development of the ability to lead and be led ;

Improvement of motor coordination of all types;

and more.

Diane Austin (PhD) is a pioneer in the use of the voice in music therapy in the United States. After studying with her personally for 3 years, Diane gave me her blessing to bring her unique method to Israel.

Diane created the method Vocal Psychotherapy

and at the top of it is the Vocal holding technique & free associative singing.

The work of Lisa Sokolov and Sylvia Nakash, as well as Paul Newham's method of voice and movement therapy, further inspire the use of voice in music therapy.

Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Center in N.Y.C serves as a model for me for professionalism and creativity in musical emotional work with children.

Both as a music therapist and as a psychotherapist – I rely on models in the dynamic psychology stream, most notably the work of Winnicott, Kohut and Jung.

For the past twenty years I have been working in special education schools as well as with integration children in regular education. These are children and adolescents who experience emotional difficulties. Some are diagnosed with multi-system learning disabilities or with other diagnoses. I also meet with functioning, normative adults like you and me in a private practice. These are usually people who are tired of just talking about the challenges in their lives and are interested in connecting with the creative forces within them. In the past, I have conducted music therapy sessions in the homes of elderly people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's. I did my internship, as mentioned, in the field of psychiatry. I have extensive experience working with people suffering from a variety of emotional difficulties including depression, anxiety, childhood trauma and PTSD. I have been a member of the Israel Association of Expression and Creative Therapists YAHAT since 2004.

Psychotherapist, graduate of the School of Psychotherapy in the bi-national program of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem ( 2024 ) ;

MA in Music Therapy from NYU, Manhattan, USA. ( 2003 ) ;

Member of the Israeli Association for Creative and Expressive Therapy: YAHAT since 2004 ;

I have taught at Bar Ilan University an enrichment course for music therapists on the subject: Vocal improvisation in music therapy (2010-2011) ;

I taught at the Bar-Ilan University branch of Jerusalem in the Master's degree program in Music Therapy the course: The voice as a therapeutic tool: Vocal improvisation in music therapy (2013-2018) ;

I taught at Levinsky College in the Master's degree Program in Music Therapy the course: The voice as a therapeutic tool: vocal improvisation in music therapy ( 2013-2016);

Work in private practice (... -2010) ;

Music therapist for children and youth with different diagnoses, at the Urim School for Special Education in Eilat ( 2022- ...) ;

Music therapist at Yemin Herzog School in Eilat (...-2023) ;

Music therapist with youth with multi-system learning disabilities at Yaad Special Education School in Bat Yam (2014-2021);

Music therapist with children on the autistic spectrum at Mesilot Special Education School in Bat Yam (2016-2019) ;

Music therapist with children and youth at risk at Wizo School for Special Education in Jerusalem (2007-2015);

Music and voice therapist in the Cognitive Preparatory Program For the Mentally Ill in Jerusalem, Association for Public Health (2011-2014);

Music Therapist with Children and Youth at Risk at Beit Hatzayar School for Special Education in Jerusalem (2006-2007);

Music Therapist with Children on the Autistic Spectrum at Dkalim School for Special Education in Jerusalem (2004-2007);

Music Therapist with Children with Special Needs at the Variety Center in Jerusalem (2003-2004)

Participation in the Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication course with Yoram Mosenzon (2015);

Participation in a course for teachers at the Matzmichim- Uplifters:

The Israeli Violence Reduction Organization, regarding the violence prevention model in schools (2009-2010) ;

Ministry of Education professional courses for paramedical workers at David Yellin College in Jerusalem (2007);

Participation in the Paul Newham VMT Voice and Movement Therapy Training Program. (2013) ;

Internship in Music Therapy at the South Beach Psychiatric Center in N.Y. conduct group and individual sessions at all levels and situations. (2002-2003);

I worked as a music therapy student at the Washington Houses Center for the Elderly in N.Y.C. with adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Also worked with mildly retarded adults, individually and in groups (2001);

I worked as a music therapy student at the Nordoff Robbins Center in N.Y.C. with children aged 3-13 at different levels of functioning and situations (2000) ;

As a music therapy student, I studied with the best teachers in the field, including Clive Robbins, Kenneth Aigen, Diane Austin, Alan Turry, Lisa Sokolov and others.

מוזמנים לצפות בוובינר בו דיברתי על השיטה של פול ניוהם. ההרצאה נתנה ב 25-7-2024 במסגרת הארגון הישראלי למורי פיתוח הקול בישראל בשיתוף איגוד הקול הישראלי. בחלק הראשון מרצה מרווה שדמי על פסיכותרפיה קולית על פי דיאן אוסטין. דיאן אוסטין היתה המנטור שלי ועל פי שיטתה אני עובדת עד היום. בכל אופן בוובינר הזה התמקדתי בדרך העבודה של פול ניוהם. הנחתה את הוובינר מיכל עומרי . ההרצאה שלי מתחילה ב 34:33 .

FAQ

Recommendations for music videos that moved me especially on the subject of music therapy

Gabby Giffords Finding Voice Through Music Therapy ABC News part 2/3