By Ali Salier, MT-BC
Six months ago, I made a candid confession from the perspective of a new music therapist landing my first gig in the recovery setting. Fast forward seven months and now I can finally say I’ve been a board certified music therapist longer than I was an intern! Although I am still a newb in many ways, I feel like I have just enough experience under my belt to reflect on some of the growing I’ve done recently as a therapist and as a person. At first glance, these “enlightenments” are obnoxiously obvious, but if you’re someone like me – simultaneously stubborn and lazy – then you’ll know that even some of the most elementary lessons only click with experience.
- I finally see myself as a therapist.
When I was an intern, I didn’t really feel like a therapist yet. My professors and supervisors always said “fake it ‘til you make it” to emphasize that mustering up some confidence in my decisions would eventually lead to embracing my role. It wasn’t until I was nearing the end of my internship, however, that I started to feel more like a therapist, and this feeling has continued to grow during the past seven months of being a professional. Believing in my role as music therapist – not an intern, not a student – has made a tremendous difference in the relationship with my clients and becomes reinforced when my clients also believe in me.
- It’s all about the relationship.
Speaking of relationships, I’ve learned that music therapy doesn’t work without them (surprise!). There was a time when I was so focused on the therapeutic nature of music itself that I tended to allocate the therapist component to a second-class tier. Very quickly into my internship and professional life, I realized that I needed to build trust and rapport with my clients just as much as any therapist does, sometimes even more so, because I am a therapist and music is my medium. In fact, I learned that sometimes it’s not even about the “music therapy.” Sometimes I do whatever I can to connect with my clients whether or not we get there by jamming out in a drum circle or singing another chorus of “Lean On Me” because the relationship is always the foundation for therapeutic success.
- My growth is in my hands.
Finally, one of the most important realizations I’ve made as a new professional is that my growth as a therapist and as a person is my responsibility. Just because I’ve reached my goal of becoming a music therapist doesn’t mean I should grow complacent about my work. There will always be new opportunities to educate myself. There will always be new bumps I’ve never encountered before. There will always be more work to do both in the field and in my own life. If my clients’ wellbeing is truly my priority, then I am responsible to become the best therapist I can be for them.