EVIDENCE. COMMITMENT. PRACTICALITY.
Our Mission
Support, educate & assist with the growth of healthy, holistic lifestyles & self-care practices based on science.
We are committed to group work and believe that self-care practices are best implemented when they are understood and feel practical and affordable!
While feel good activities help us feel good, we want to share some of the science and research we have gathered surrounding all sorts of self-care practices. We are on a mission to help all people feel better about life, decisions, and mental health. Connecting through group work supports emotional and social wellbeing and validates experiences.
Our Services & Programs
All of our programs and services are designed to be inclusive for all who are experiencing any of the wide ranges of responses to life. Our goal is to have you join us, ask questions, & open your mind to new ways of self-care and living. Therapies are explored & explained & we transform ideas into integration!
We strive to promote balance & grounding, enhance problem solving & help you to manage stress & anxiety.
Group Support
Enroll in a multiweek group support therapy program. Facilitated by clinical mental health counselors these psychotherapy groups provide support and psychoeducation surrounding management of mental health disruptions or diagnoses. See our group therapy tab for upcoming sessions.
community workshops
Join us for 1-hour workshops exploring areas of our lives that can disrupt balance & grounding. We will focus on areas such as sleep & rest, stress management, supplements, & many more. See the Community Workshop tab for a schedule of upcoming workshops. Workshops are free!
THERAPY OF THE MONTH:
Music
Music has been used historically for hundreds of years as a healing modality. Did you know that research has revealed that philosophers such as Plato & Aristotle spoke to the importance of music and health? The ease of access to music makes it an easy, practical, & affordable way to integrate a therapy that can help reduce stress & promote health.
Music therapy itself is considered a licensed & credentialed form of therapy, but music itself can be used as a daily practice to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of positivity. There are a wide variety of apps on our smart devices that provide access to music, some are low in cost, & many are free, like Pandora. Of course, the free apps have some advertisements, but integrating music in a meaningful way can be as quick as 2 to 3 minutes, a few times a day!
Music has been used & researched as a treatment modality for individuals with Alzheimer’s, neurological disorders, & in rehabilitative settings. It is not unusual to experience music in the operating rooms of hospitals & often music is offered as a comforting measure to reduce anxiety with imaging procedures such as MRIs & CT scans. More recently, I was encouraged to listen to music while my dentist did some drilling, it was great & improved my experience while reducing my anxiety!
Some of the research speaks to less medication requirements such as Valium in post cardiac procedures & decreased levels of anxiety & pain following surgical procedures. Ever hear about those studies that revealed music contributing to plants growing robustly? Yes, that is the benefit of music!
How can music help you daily? First you must really connect to different pieces of music to determine which type of music facilitates change in your body & your mind & your spirit. We often think we know which music will work, but we listen to music for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we want to feel light & lifted, other times we want to “zone” out & other times be motivated. When music is used as therapy, it is much more than tuning in, it’s more like tapping in; there are considerations of tempo, frequency, & resonance.
Let us give you an experience.
Take a few minutes to listen to the following you tube clips. It is important to take deep breaths & try to allow your body to relax & really connect to the music. Try to distance yourself from the busy world of your thinking brain & let the music seep into your ears, then your mind, down through your body. Do you feel a change in your posture? Your muscles? Did they relax? Do this a couple of times a day for 3 to 5 minutes, does it help you? Consider setting your alarm to remind you. If you feel a benefit from this, music therapy might be a good option for you
Some of my favorite Pandora stations are Yoga Radio, Relaxation Radio & Soothing Water Radio. Pandora is a free app, you can use it on your smartphone, tablet, with wifi, or your laptop/ computer that has an internet connection. Get this positive vibes moving with some music for the soul! Try some music this month and perhaps your stress will begin to melt away; now that’s music to our ears!
References:
American Music Therapy Association (2021): https://www.musictherapy.org
Koopsen, C. & Young, C. (2009). Integrative Health: A holistic approach for health professionals. Jones & Bartlett.
Reach Out
DAWN MONAHAN-Joyce
Director, Integrative Therapeutics, LLC
therapiesatbirch.com