Build a Therapeutic Relationship: Attuning and Self-Regulation for Therapist and Client (5 credits)

with Sally Bonkrude MA, LPC, MT-BC

Supporting a client through difficult emotions, behaviors, or unexpected moments requires more than knowing the right intervention. Your ability to remain present, regulated, authentic, and attuned can directly shape the therapeutic relationship and what becomes possible within it.

In this experiential course, you’ll explore practical ways to strengthen your own self-regulation while developing your ability to recognize and respond to what your clients need in the moment. You’ll experience a variety of musical and non-musical strategies designed to help you regulate your own nervous system, build authentic connections, and support clients in developing greater awareness and regulation themselves.

You’ll leave with practical tools you can use both during music therapy sessions and in your own professional self-care, helping you stay grounded and connected even when sessions become challenging or unpredictable.

In this workshop, you will learn:

How your own regulation, presence, and attunement influence the therapeutic relationship.
Practical strategies for regulating your nervous system before, during, and after challenging clinical situations.
Musical and non-musical techniques you can use to support client regulation and connection.
How to attune to clients in ways that help them become more aware of and connected to themselves.
Ways to build authentic therapeutic relationships that create greater safety, trust, and opportunities for growth.
Practical tools for remaining grounded, responsive, and authentically present when sessions don’t go as planned.

Here’s What People are Saying:

“I will absolutely present some of the active exercises to my clients, as well as for my staff in an inservice. It is so important for employees to remember that they are important, and I would love to see them be able to remind themselves of this.”

Celia Lewis “I can use most of what I learned in my group relaxation and music skills groups. I have been using self-regulation tools since the completion of this training and have noticed a difference in my sense of groundedness in my sessions with clients.”

Tessa S. “The course and strategies that I leaned from this class reinforced positive inner changes and feeling of accomplishment physically, emotionally, and cognitively.”

Nam K.K.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to name the principles of SMART goals to establish music therapy goals and objectives.
Participants will be able to create at least 1 goal or objective based on information gathered during an assessment.
Participants will be able to state the difference between a goal and an objective.
Participants will be able to identify at least 2 needs during a music therapy sessions to use when evaluating and adapting goals and objectives for therapy as needed.

CBMT Domain Areas:

Domain III Implementation:

Task statement 33 Utilize evidence-based techniques, including presence, authenticity, and respect, to establish and maintain trust and rapport with the client;

3A-5 Transference and counter-transference in treatment;

Task statement 34 Recognize one's own professional and personal biases, feelings, and behaviors that affect the therapeutic process (e.g., transference and counter-transference) to maintain boundaries within the therapeutic relationship

Build a Therapeutic Relationship: Attuning and Self-Regulation for Therapist and Client is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 5 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Build a Therapeutic Relationship: Attuning and Self-Regulation for Therapist and Client (5 credits)

In this workshop, you will learn:

Here’s What People are Saying:

Learning Objectives:

CBMT Domain Areas:

Class Description