Creative Innovations in Mental Health & Addictions: A Guide to the 12- Steps in Practice (15 credits)

Presented by Nicole Edwards MT-BC

Hey music therapist- Have you found it difficult to find resources about how to use music therapy in addiction and mental health rehab?

My name is Nicole Edwards and finding a dearth in the research around how to use music therapy in addiction and mental health rehab was causing me emotional fatigue and burn out.

 I and other music therapists I know who are working in this setting have found it difficult to feel supported because there just aren’t a lot of resources out there for us.

So I decided to create a course to share with you the solutions I have found.

Would you like to learn some protocols that you can use  to immediately apply music therapy methods with your clients?  I’m talking about interventions that work in conjunction with client goals as well as the 12-step program? 

If so, this course is for you.

Course Description

I will give you protocols using the 12 steps as a model, that you can apply immediately with your clients. You will have resources to support you in your music therapy sessions with clients who struggle with addictions.

This course will provide you with tools that will not only strengthen your library of significant song repertoire, but will also provide ways to process songs, elicit responses, and connect group members through meaningful experiences. 

As a result of doing this course, you will be able to cut down on the amount of time spent session planning as well as reduce overwhelm and burnout.

You can expect to review and ask questions about:

• Specific music therapy interventions and how they pertain to each of the 12 steps.

• Session plans to meet goal areas

• Music suggestions

• Lyric substitution/songwriting sheets with chords

• Mindfulness meditations

• Processing questions

• Possible answers for processing

• Subsequent journal sheets for self- reflection.

Each experience provides a framework for helping clients to witness, embody, and apply the spiritual principle(s) that pertain to a specific step of recovery. Although these were originally designed for group therapy, they may be adapted for various populations and individual therapy as well.

The songs and interventions selected for this self-study are ones both Nicole and her clients have identified as helpful to the process and as such, are meant as a starting point. Each clinician may use them as they pertain to the group, utilizing clinical judgment, and in no specific order.

Additionally, you may find that a particular experience Nicole has paired with a particular spiritual principle (like honesty, step one) may be more suited to address and teach a different spiritual principle (like gratitude, step twelve). Her hope is that you will take these and make them fully your own, exploring and adapting them to your clientele.

You will also be given a copy of the program manual which is included as part of your participation in this self-study!

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how the 12 steps of NA/AA can serve as a model for structuring music therapy sessions

2. Describe at least 3 goals I can apply with this population

3. Create a repertoire of songs and interventions addressing goal areas

4. Implement and practice 6 interventions during this self-study program

Course Schedule:

In addition to attending the self – study course, you will receive a handbook with protocols in it so you have the interventions all in one easy to find location..  You will practice each of them with your clients and share your experiences with Nicole, so you receive immediate feedback about what works and doesn’t work from her experience as well as explore for yourself what achievements and challenges you face.  In this way, you can support one another in this important and powerful work we do and not get as burnt out.

60 minutes Orientation Meeting webinar steps 1-2

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

30 minutes webinar steps 3-4

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

30 minutes webinar steps 5-6

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

30 minutes webinar steps 7-8

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

30 minutes webinar steps 9-10

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

30 minutes webinar  steps 11-12

90 minutes reading manual, putting protocols into practice, writing assignment

For each step:

1  Watch  the video 

2. Follow the session plan format in your manual and practice implementing the 2 experiences that were presented in each of the webinars with your therapy groups.

3. Answer the evaluation questions in your manual and discuss through e-mail

CBMT Domain Areas:

(II.D.6.a-e) Establish client goals and objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-limited. 

(V.A.6) Expand musicianship, leadership skills, and therapeutic effectiveness. 

(III.A.2.g,n,y,ss,tt) Provide individualized music therapy experiences to address client’s: g. affect, emotions and moods. n. autonomy. y. group cohesion and/or a feeling of group membership. ss. self-awareness and insight. tt. self-esteem, 

Creative Innovations in Mental Health & Addictions: A Guide to the 12- Steps in Practice is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 15 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.