Welcome to this joint podcast episode! You'll hear part 1 on the Able Voice Podcast with Hayley and Kim of Synergy Wellness.

Some topics from the episode:

• Behind Not Your Average Music Therapist podcast
• Competency and Experience
• What would you tell your younger self?
• Life advice
• Reminders on how to be human

And the book I referenced, which I could not remember the name of, is Defining Music Therapy by Kenneth Bruscia.

Enjoy the episode!

Connect with the guests

Instagram: @synergymusictherapy, @ablevoicepodcast, @mtahayley, @mta.kimberly

Email: contactsynergymt@gmail.com

Website: synergymusictherapy.com

Facebook: facebook.com/synergymusictherapy

You're always welcome to send me a message at hello@kimbest.com OR connect on Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest, @musiccanhelp, @nymusictherapy, @musictherapistpod

P.S. it's beanie season!!! You can find them here: kimbest.com/shop

About the guests:

Hayley (she/her) is a certified music therapist, speaker, and author living in Bermuda! She is passionate about lots of things including accessibility, anti-oppressive practice, and finds her clinical passion in working with older adults (e.g. dementia care and end-of-life care) and in neurologic rehabilitation.

Kim (she/her) is a certified music therapist and singer-songwriter based in Kingston, Ontario. She works with many people, but her main area of focus is within the realm of mental health care, supporting people of all ages in living a fulfilled and healthy life.

Together, Kim and Hayley, are the co-founders of Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness services which is the umbrella hub for a number of passion projects including the Able Voice Podcast. Under the Synergy MT brand, Hayley and Kim offer music therapy sessions with a team spanning across Canada and Bermuda, have released sticker collections, and most recently introducing their new Synergy Soirée series of events.

This episode is real, raw, and oh so honest. Many of us have had less-than-ideal experiences working for other music therapists, and we’re here to spill the tea. Please know that these are our personal experiences, thoughts, and perspectives. I truly hope there are music therapy businesses out there doing things differently, but for now we will open the conversation up so that maybe, just maybe another music therapist won’t go through what we’ve each been through.

Just a note, this episode was recorded in 2023.

_________________

Head over to kimbest.substack.com to share your thoughts and see what other people are saying about this episode!

>>>>>>Take a look at the Survey Results<<<<<<

Notes from the episode ⬇️

Links:

• Shannon’s podcast, Casually Green on Spotify
• Pros and Cons of Subcontracting, episode with Tricia Caiati from Care Chronicles Podcast
• Therapeutic crisis intervention
• MIT living wage calculator

Topics from the episode:

• What are the worst things you went through in music therapy jobs?
• What kept you in music therapy?
• How to fall in love with it again.
• Why it doesn’t work (MTs having employees)
• Is happiness in our jobs possible?
• Business ownership solo vs having employees
• Abundance mindset vs scarcity
• Thoughts for the music therapy business owners

Advice for new professionals:

• Sense of self outside of music therapy
• Network and support system
• Trust yourself and your experiences
• Personal wellness checklist at the end of the survey

_________________

Connect with the guests in this episode!

Jules Joyce

Pronouns: she/they

FB: Juliana Rose

Instagram: @_jujujules11

Cheyenna Eagle

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Email: cheyennaeagle@gmail.com

FB: Cheya-Rain Eagle

Instagram: @cheyarain

Shannon Ogden

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Instagram: @shannon_mtbc

If you’d like to share your story, email hello@kimbest.com.

_________________

If you’d like to join the “pod” that supports this podcast, go to patreon.com/kimbest.

And here are some extra links for you:

kimbest.com for resources and added support for music therapists

Instagram: @kimberlyjanebest, @musiccanhelp, @nymusictherapy, @musictherapistpod

I recorded this in April, right after World Music Therapy week. So, enjoy all things music therapy in this episode!

Here are some of the topics discussed.

-using flute in music therapy sessions

-adults with dementia using jumbo guitar picks

-QUESTION: “I really love the field of music therapy, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be a good music therapist. Any advice?”

-QUESTION: “mt intern here! do you recommend being a contract MT or being hired by a facility and why?”

-QUESTION: “What is one thing you like about yourself?”

-QUESTION: “How did you decide to become a music therapist?”

Send in your own anonymous question: https://ngl.link/kimberlyjanebest1

Check out Patreon: patreon.com/kimbest

Read some creative writing: kimbest.substack.com

Kim on Instagram: instagram.com/kimberlyjanebest