Bereavement Professional

I am a bereavement counselor and we have a new music therapist on staff.  I am looking for ideas of a holiday program that could be done with the music therapist that would be more then her just playing music in the background, etc.  I would like ideas of something we could coordinate to do together involving her as a music therapist, not just as a musician.  She and I are going to talk, but looking what others maybe have done successfully.

following -- we have a volunteer art therapist and we do include music for movement or to accompany activities.
I have used lyrics as part of grief groups.  How about demonstrating how music can affect mood?
When I am Down, There are Things I Know Will Help
Music which makes me feel:
calm
comforted
excited
Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2022 11:53 AM
From: Lisa Watson
Subject: Holiday Ideas coordinating bereavement with music therapist

I am a bereavement counselor and we have a new music therapist on staff.  I am looking for ideas of a holiday program that could be done with the music therapist that would be more then her just playing music in the background, etc.  I would like ideas of something we could coordinate to do together involving her as a music therapist, not just as a musician.  She and I are going to talk, but looking what others maybe have done successfully.

Hi Lisa,

I am a music therapist and a bereavement counselor-- thanks for raising this question! 

When you say holiday program, are you referring to a workshop format? Or a more formal event/program with limited interactions (like a service of remembrance)?

I am going to suggest some interventions for a workshop format. Please feel free to contact me directly if needed.

- Because the holidays are often marked by gift-giving, ask participants to think about gifts that their deceased loved one gave to them. Gifts like certain values, memories, or other intangibles (for example: "she taught me kindness"). The music therapist could put these words into a song that already exists, or could improvise and sing the participants' words back to them.

- Lead a guided music and meditation experience and record it for participants. Something they could use to help ground themselves when overwhelmed at the holiday season. The file of the recording could be emailed to them after the program. Have a group discussion about ways to take a break and care for self during a difficult season that can make grief feel more intense.

- Discuss participants' responses to holiday music and how they cope with this music when it might be emotionally evocative. Discuss creating playlists or selecting CDs/albums of unfamiliar and/or less evocative songs (like instrumental music or nature sounds) that participants could have on hand to listen to during the holiday season to support their mood/coping. The music therapist could play a few examples of song recordings that would likely be unfamiliar to participants and discuss what this is like for them. This activity can enhance choice/control during a season when it seems like grief activators are everywhere. 

Hope this is helpful!
Molly

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Molly G. Hicks, MMT, MT-BC, FT (she/her)
Bereavement Coordinator
Penn Medicine Hospice
Bala Cynwyd, PA
Integrative & Rehabilitation Therapies Community Leader, MyNHPCO
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2022 11:53 AM
From: Lisa Watson
Subject: Holiday Ideas coordinating bereavement with music therapist

I am a bereavement counselor and we have a new music therapist on staff.  I am looking for ideas of a holiday program that could be done with the music therapist that would be more then her just playing music in the background, etc.  I would like ideas of something we could coordinate to do together involving her as a music therapist, not just as a musician.  She and I are going to talk, but looking what others maybe have done successfully.