For
some time now, I have had a great fascination with counseling and therapy, but
my natural talent is in music and entertainment. For as long as I can remember,
I have either been standing in front of a mirror or behind a microphone
singing. I have worked both in front and behind the scenes on many
entertainment productions.
For
years, I thought I would have to take one and leave the other. I could not
figure out how I could possibly merge the two, until I had the opportunity to
watch a music therapist in action. One encounter and I knew this would be the
direction I would head my career.
With everything, there are unforeseen
challenges. Some challenges you bring on yourself and others that come because
of situations people in your field have experienced. As I prepare for a future
in entertainment therapy, I have to be aware of the controversies that have and
are continuing to alter the public’s perspective of this type of treatment.
A few years ago in Atlanta, GA, the senate voted on whether it would be a requirement for a music therapist to be licensed by the state. Unfortunately, the Senators, at the time of the bill,
believed that all music therapists did was turn on the radio for patients. This
view diminishes the work of music therapist. People tend believe that if a
license is not required then it is not real therapy.
An occupational therapist in NewYork City is on suspension for a number of allegations including theft of services.
Every allegation is vague and nothing is concrete. The most offensive thing
about the article is the fact that the writer referred to this therapist as a “school
aide.” I do not believe aides are in a lesser class nor do I believe they should
be looked down on. In fact, I am currently employed as a school aide, which is
why I know that the educational requirements of a school aide pale in comparison
to an occupational therapist. While I am highly educated and overqualified for
my job, I know that the sweat and tears an occupational therapist endured in
order to meet the minimum requirements to treat a patient, are not the same of
just any college graduate. Again, here is another example of how other’s
perspective diminishes the quality of non-traditional therapists.
In Madison, WI, a therapist wasfound guilty of planting false memories to allow the patient to believe she hadbeen abused as a child. Of course, the therapist states that this is false and
the abuse is real, but for the sake of this argument, I am going to assume that
the verdict is correct. We have all heard the saying, it only takes one bad
apple to spoil the entire bunch. If this is the truth, then this only plays
into what many skeptics already believe. This therapist has caused negativity
to modify the image and reputation so many therapists are struggling to defy.
I truly believe in the power of
therapy. Medical doctors and prescription drugs have an important place but are
in no way the cure to everything. It will be tough, but I will work very hard
to be apart of the change in the way people view music therapy.
