Reversing Narratives of Failure Through Music and Verse in Therapy

Abstract

Use of music and verse can help reverse narratives of failure for individuals, couples, and families. Through use of personalized therapeutic sharing rituals, mental health professionals can strengthen the helping relationship and help clients develop new, adaptive personal visions.

Using Creative Group Techniques in High Schools

“…Likewise, select music or music activities can help instill in high school students a sense of closure and can promote integration (Plach, 1996). Hodas (1994) reported using music in a mixed group of European American and African American male adolescents to help the group handle anger, learn coping skills, and appreciate universal truths about human nature. In this group, a variety of songs, some with themes of violence, were played.…”

Conversations with My Father

“…Rather, they allow the story to unfold through the music. This process constitutes a "therapeutic sharing ritual" as described by Hodas (1994), and the experience with the counselor can serve to help the client move more deeply into clarity and connection (see Jordan, 2001).…”

“…Hanser and Thompson (1994) also reviewed research and found documentation of the effects of music on quality of life, expression of feelings, positive associations, and socialization. Hodas (1994) also discusses how many people are profoundly affected by music; in fact, sharing a song can result in creating a special therapeutic bond. When music is shared between client and therapist in a purposeful, meaningful way, it can represent a "therapeutic sharing ritual" (Hodas,p.…”

Narrative Therapy: A Storied Context for Multicultural Counseling

“…Such questions allow clients to begin carving out new possibilities for how they view themselves. A number of creative implementations of narrative therapy such as visualization, play therapy, and music therapy can be used to augment the process of externalizing the problem (Freeman et al, 1997;Hodas, 1994). Visualization was used with Shirley as a technique for externalizing racism.…”

“…Clients could be asked to bring in poems or songs that mirror their new sense of self. Such sharing rituals and exercises promote the therapeutic alliance, and they also may serve what Hodas (1994) referred to as "promoting real world competence" (p. 202) through lyrics that define one's experience and may fill clients with hope (Jones, 1993). Discussion in counseling of the meanings of songs, poems, and journal writings may help facilitate the re-authoring process.…”