There are a few moving parts we think it would be a good idea to cover to answer this question.
Moving part 1: the “humanistic approach” means “client- or person-centered” approach to a therapeutic relationship. Anyone who comes to Gsus Music Therapy Services & Center, LLC, is a human being first. They are a human being with unique thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences that all go into making them the wonderful being they are at the time we meet them. Although we do take into account any diagnosis and mediating conditions, reactions, and a whole slew of other things unique to the individual(s) in front of us; we do not allow ourselves to forget they are a human being and a person worthy of unconditional positive regard and kindness. It is your therapy. You are the focus of what we do.
Carl Rogers developed the concept of a therapist being a human being with an individual first; and a therapist second. He defined it by saying, “It is that the individual has within himself or herself vast resources for self-understanding, for altering his or her self-concept, attitudes and self-directed behavior – and that the resources can be tapped if only a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided” (Rogers, 1986). That’s quite a mouthful, right? We think a more simple way of saying the same thing is that everyone has the ability to discover who they are, to understand why they think the way they do and respond to things the way they do, and to realize what their best self can look like in the midst of any of life’s storms and trials.
Moving part 2: “client- or person-centered” really means “mind, body, and spirit”. These three elements are what makes an individual an individual. Although philosophers have been debating for centuries what is man; one thing they all have been able to agree on is that a human is a mind, a body, and a spirit. The mind, the body, and the spirit are unique. There is no one like you…anywhere. There are those who may think similarly, but they do not think identically to you. There are those who may like the same things you do, but they cannot like them the way you do. And even though we all feel things, there is no one anywhere who will ever know exactly how what you are feeling feels like. We think Dr. Seuss says it best, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”.
So how does all of this fit into the therapeutic process?
Moving part 3: Have you ever heard the old adage, “You are what you eat?” Just like we feed our bodies, we also feed our minds and our spirits. And just like what we feed our bodies has a direct effect on how well our body is in balance and can perform and stand up to illness, disease, and stress; what we feed our minds and spirits matters and the same kind of benefits apply. Most people don’t think about this concept of self being made of 3 components often. Through the humanistic approach to a therapeutic relationship, we help you learn about your self – all of your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences that make you who you are. We help you see your diagnosis and mediating conditions, reactions, and a whole slew of other things that you face from a different angle. We help you discover, analyze, compose, and record your own soundtrack for your life based on your experiences, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and diagnosis so your self has a more balanced diet. We like to think of it in these terms: Our bodies hear everything our mouths say, our minds think about everything we feel, and we feel everything we say and think about.
Do you want to make a referral for services? Would you like more information about music therapy? Are you interested in music therapy for yourself or a loved one? Do you think one of our performance ensembles is just the medicine the doctor ordered? Do you want to find out what your heart says? Give us a call at 512.754.9631, message us here or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/gsusmusictherapy, or send us an email at gsus.musictherapy@gmail.com or fill out the ‘Contact Us‘ form right here on our site.
We wish you the grooviest of days and at least moment that takes your breath away and makes your heart smile!
The Gsus Music Therapy Treatment Team
Gsus Music Therapy Services & Center, LLC 