Category Archives: Uncategorized

Last week, I shared about the “B” in SOBER. If you missed it, you can check it out HERE. This week, we cover the “E” which stands for “Escape Stressors.” E = Escape Stressors Clinical Outcome: “Clients will engage in two types of music-based relaxation techniques to increase healthy coping skills.”  That may be what […]

This is the third video in a series where I share my S.O.B.E.R. method from my book, Sonic Recovery: Harness the Power of Music to Stay Sober. This week we focus on the “B” in SOBER, which stands for – Be Creative. B = Be Creative Clinical Outcome: “Clients will engage in creative arts and/or […]

Last week I shared about the “S” of the SOBER method. If you missed it, you can find it HERE. This week, we move on to the “O” which stands for “Open Up”. O = Open Up Clinical Outcome: “Clients will engage in active music-making to increase emotional and non-verbal expression.” Here’s how I write […]

This is the first video and post in a series focusing on what I call my S.O.B.E.R. method that I outline in my book, Sonic Recovery: Harness the Power of Music to Stay SOBER. This week we focus on the “S” in SOBER, which stands for – Stay Present. S = Stay Present Clinical Outcome: […]

The Problem They sat the kids down in front of a math problem with a timer. “Hit the timer when you either quit, or solve the problem,” were the instructions, but none of the researchers told the kids that they were staring at an unsolvable problem (such is often the way with psychological research studies). […]

How to Chill the F*ck Out The clients at the treatment center walk into my group room. Some skulk, some bounce, but they all laugh a little when they look up and see the following written on the whiteboard: How to chill the f*ck out. I tell them THIS is the goal of the day. […]

Few of us call ourselves musicians, but in western culture, we are all expert music listeners. Music listening can be a good tool, but it can also be a dangerous tool in recovery. I’m a board-certified music therapist who works in addiction treatment centers, but I’m also in long term recovery. In this blog post, […]

This week I wanted to share a list of podcasts for people in recovery. If this describes you, you know that getting and staying sober is not transactional. It takes ongoing effort. Adding a podcast or two to your regular listening schedule is a great tool to help you strengthen your recovery. I’ve shared a few […]

“People often say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar “Hygiene: noun. conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.” I think about hygiene as a rhythm for health, since a rhythm is just a repeated pattern of behavior. So, if […]

Living Into The Future Last week’s blog post was all about completing the past. This week, it’s time to talk about composing the future. “It’s the future we’re living into that gives us being in the present.” – Introduction to the Landmark Forum. I remember either reading that quote or hearing it back in roughly […]