April Newsletter 2014
Songwriting in therapy - how does that work?
When I tell people that I am a singer/songwriter and a counsellor and that I use these in my counselling work, there often seems to be some confusion. Perhaps there is concern that the counselling session would involve me performing, or that the client would be required to perform or need singing and song writing skills. For those unfamiliar with art therapy or expressive therapies, these are valid perceptions, but thankfully, none of them are true! So let’s have a look at what a songwriting session in counselling might be like for you.
image from :http://lessonsgowhere.com.sg
Do I have to perform?
It would be very awkward and not helpful for me to perform a song in a counselling session, most importantly because these sessions are designed solely to support the client’s needs and give them the space they need for their own exploration. Also, unless it is a specific goal of a client to write for performance, any songs that are written in therapy are not meant for a public hearing, but are a personal way for a client to explore their inner world. Such a song may not even be kept after a session, it may simply exist to express the needs of the client at that moment. If it is a goal of yours to write songs for performance I can help you to do this. You may want to record some of your work during the session, this would only ever be done with your consent and never used for any purpose other than how you wish.
EXPRESSIVE THERAPy
My creative counselling techniques are based on the framework of Expressive Therapy as developed by Mark Pearson and Helen Wilson http://www.expressivetherapies.com.au/Scripts/openExtra.asp?extra=2 . This means that sessions are designed to give clients time to engage in self-discovery and healing through creative activities whilst being emotionally supported by solid counselling skills. The many benefits of creative and expressive activities in therapy include deep but gentle emotional exploration, development of emotional intelligence, increased likelihood of lasting change, new self-awareness, enhancing of self-esteem and the building of self-confidence. Songwriting is a creative activity of which I have much experience, so adding it to the toolbox of expressive modalities available to my clients make lots of sense.
Image from: http://chandlerthinks.files.wordpress.com
In the session
A creative counselling session with me always starts with time for you to get comfortable and let me know what you need. You decide if songwriting is something you wish to do and which element of the song you want to work on first. For some people the music and tune is most important, for others the lyrics, themes, rhythm or style of the song is the place to begin. Some people find that a lot of these elements may come at once. It is bit like cooking - gathering the ingredients, mixing them together and tasting it along the way to see how it’s going.
getting creative
After some time to get centred and relaxed, we would begin to work on the song using some techniques which I find really helpful. These include brainstorming for lyrics and themes, exploring chord progressions that fit the mood of the song or playing around with notes and tunes. There are so many fun and creative ways to find fresh ideas and to find what really matches your unique musical voice and what you want the song to express. Like all creative processes, songwriting involves a balance between looking inward and expressing outward and it requires self-compassion, openness and space, it is a personal experience for the writer and I am only a facilitator. You will be supported at all times with no judgment about your work - this is vital to allow your creativity to flow. If at any times you experience strong emotions you will be supported while they pass and gently encouraged to use them in your work.
Your own song
You may already have incomplete songs you want to work on, your own instrument to use or recordings to use as inspiration - it is up to you. Some ideas you may want to use as a place to start are:
- dreams
- stories from your life
- hopes/fears/wishes
- songs for people you love
- ideas you want to share
- existing music that inspires you
- emotions that you just want to get out
- questions that you want answers to
- writing, poems or art that you are inspired by
The great thing is that there are no rules - your song may be an avant-garde never-to-be-heard-again piece of art or an important piece of family history to be passed on - most importantly it is yours.
Time to reflect
Sometimes creative work can be quite intense, especially when it touches deep emotions. We will have time before the end of the session to reflect on what you have experienced, perhaps have a listen to how the song is sounding and decide if it is complete or will be something to work on further. We may take some time to chat and relax or even write or draw in order to allow the feelings that you have processed during the session to settle. This ensures that you are comfortable when you leave the counselling room and that your emotions are not raw. At the end of the session we can talk about whether you want to continue to work on the song at home and how you might go about it.
Creative counselling - a collaboration
At the start of counselling with me, we will look at the goals you have in mind, they might be to develop an artistic practice of your own, to find clarity in your life, to resolve emotional issues or just to get to know yourself better. These goals may change as you progress so we will review them as we go. The most important thing is that as the client and counsellor we collaborate in order to meet your goals and we do so with openness and without judgment.
For me, writing a song is a great way to bring my logical side and my dreamy side together in a way that creates new meanings and often reveals things I had not expected. Some songs live just in one moment, to express the feelings of that time, others live on to be shared with others and are made to be performed over and over again.
I am running a song writing course that will go deep into the processes of writing a song and encourage you to complete finished products. The course will contain elements of creative unblocking and self-expression as well musical and lyrical techniques. Details are below.
Have you got a song to share?
Kind regards,
Fiona Claire.
6 Week Songwriting Course with Fiona Claire.
Dates: April 19 - May 24,
Time: Saturday 1- 3pm.
Venue: Jika Jika Community Centre, Union St Northcote.
Price: $180, $150 concession.
If you are interested please call Fiona directly on 0437 985 132 or email: fionaclaire@optusnet.com.au
Work with me: Individual Counselling, Creativity and Therapeutic Singing and Songwriting Sessions by appointment.
