When I first began working in the human services field, I quickly realized that children cannot simply sit down and begin talking about their "issues" and feelings. I then turned to something I strongly identified with as a teen, music. I began researching the therapeutic messages present in the music my client's were listening to. Once I began playing these songs for them in therapy, I realized the power of popular music in therapy!
I then took this a step further with the creation of my therapeutic rock band, Freudian Slip. I am a musician, and I wanted to make music that would get my client's attention. I wrote many songs, some about my own personal experiences, and some about my clients' experiences. Very quickly I had a song about every therapeutic topic imaginable!
I chose Freudian Slip as the title for my band because my music is about how people really feel inside. Technically, a Freudian Slip occurs whenever we are saying one thing, and how we really feel "slips" out. We spend so much of our lives trying to hide our personal feelings. My music speaks to how people really feel, it is about pure human emotion.
I hope that this website can help therapists to come together and further explore the concept of popular music in therapy, together. Feel free to check out my product page, where you will find more information out about Utilizing Music as a Coping Skill, or head over to the download page, and here some excerpts of my music.
Children are slipping through our fingers each and every day. My hope is that this approach will allow us to truly "start where the client is", in looking at music they already listen to, and help them to use this as a forum to express their feelings.
Best wishes on your endeavor!