Calm in Chaos

Now more than ever, we are all feeling the effects of stress in our everyday lives. Not only can stress negatively affect our well-being on a day-to-day basis, but it can also lead to long-term physical and mental health challenges. If you’re experiencing things like brain fog, tiredness, and lack of motivation, you’re not alone. The ongoing experience of the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge we are all facing together! If you’re looking for ways to cultivate calm and clarity during this tumultuous time, here are some tips that may help.

  1. Introduce Novelty – Have you ever seen a frightening or disheartening news story and wanted to disengage from it, but found it next to impossible to stop watching or reading? This is because our brains naturally crave novelty! When something is new and different, our attention is immediately pulled to it. This mechanism helps protect us by keeping us alert to potential dangers, but it can also lead to increased stress. In regards to COVID, we may find it difficult to disengage from the news or social media. Trying to simply turn off the news or close the tab often proves ineffective, not because we lack willpower, but because it goes against how our brains are wired to behave. One way to help mitigate this effect is to introduce another form of novelty to shift our attention away. Watching a funny video or listening to interesting music can help replace the new, exciting sensory input our brains crave while helping to relieve stress and improve our mood.
  2. Get Oxygen Flowing – Things like gentle movement and deep breathing might seem small, but they can be remarkably helpful when we feel burned out and overwhelmed. Moving our bodies and taking deep breaths both provide fresh oxygen to our brains, which helps us think more clearly, solve problems more easily, and manage our emotions. Try taking a couple of minutes to walk around, gently stretch, or just take a few slow, deep breaths. Some people may find it helpful to set a few reminders over the course of a busy day.
  3. Try a small, Achievable Task – When we’re feeling stressed, burnt out, and overwhelmed, even small tasks may feel insurmountable. One way to help with this can be setting a small, easily achievable task that creates a feeling of productivity and energy when completed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a backlog of emails, try answering one that only needs a short, easy response. If you need to clean your kitchen, try just wiping down the countertops. You can even write the task down on paper or in your phone, then check it off when it’s completed. It might feel a bit silly, but it can help break the anxiety cycle and propel the day forward.
  4. Give yourself permission to Feel Your Feelings – While we may use these techniques and many others to reduce or prevent “negative” emotions, it is just as necessary to allow ourselves to feel them fully when the time is right. Try to give yourself permission to express strong emotions rather than repress them – cry, vent to a friend, or sing along to music that matches how you feel. We all deserve the space and time to express our feelings, whatever they may be.

We hope you find these tips helpful! While we can’t completely avoid stress and worry, small steps like these can help us lead healthier and happier lives. Our team wishes you a safe, fun, and joyful 2022!

Happy New Year!

We want to take a moment during this busy week back to work and wish you a Happy New Year! We truly hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and feel excited and inspired to begin another year. But … maybe you don’t feel excited or inspired. Maybe you feel anxious, stressed, burned out, or depressed.

If you feel that you are stuck and need help moving forward or moving on from something, our team is here for those very reasons. Please reach out any time to find out if Music Therapy is exactly what you or your loved one has been needing.

If you want to see what we were up to in December, meet our new intern, or watch Bailey’s Bell Choir performance, you can find all of that in our latest Newsletter here.

 

Veterans Day 2021

Here at Metro Music Therapy, we truly believe that our Veterans should be honored every day!

We are proud to tell you more about our newest partnership with Emory Healthcare.

Emory Healthcare Veterans Program

It has been our honor to recently come alongside the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program (EHVP) to provide music therapy services to the veterans and service members in their care. EHVP is a part of the Wounded Warrior Project’s Warrior Care Network, a nationwide program which recognizes the stress of military service and the challenges of returning to civilian life. Post-9/11 veterans and service members struggling with invisible wounds such as PTSD, TBI, MST, Anxiety or Depression, may benefit from this free and confidential Intensive Outpatient Program.

During our sessions at the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, veterans collaborate with each other to relax, express themselves, share coping skills, and build confidence and self-esteem. Each veteran brings a unique perspective and experience, and it is my honor to facilitate these groups.
– Hayley Oliver, LPMT, MT-BC

We hope you enjoy the special edition of the MMT Newsletter, wherein we highlight our work specific to Veterans. You can read the entire newsletter here.

Songs of Hope Funding Update

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Wellspring International, the sole funding source for our Songs of Hope program, has been closed by their parent organization. With this news comes the harsh reality that we have to suspend the music therapy services provided through our Songs of Hope program beginning October 1, 2021.

While we grieve the closing of this chapter, please know that our team remains committed and dedicated to the calling which we have and will always follow: to leverage the transformative power of music to bring healing during life’s most trying seasons, and to do so with professionalism, excellence, warmth and compassion.

Who does this Impact?
For the last six years, Songs of Hope has provided music therapy services to:

  • Refugees who have resettled in the Atlanta area
  • Children experiencing Grief & Loss
  • Elderly shut-ins
  • Veterans with PTSD
  • Hospice & Palliative Care patients

Do you want to see these services continue?
If you or someone you know would like to financially contribute to the continuation of the Songs of Hope program, please contact us to find out how to give a tax-deductible donation to one of our partner organizations who will ensure your donation goes to Songs of Hope, or ask us about our ability to receive scholarship donations directly through Zelle (these are not tax-deductible as Metro Music Therapy is not a 501c3).

Thank you for your belief in our work, and for your continued support of Metro Music Therapy and the Songs of Hope program.

Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

With the recent news of the events in Afghanistan, we know that Veterans are hurting, feeling overwhelmed, and may be triggered by what they see and hear on the news and social media. Our team was honored to provide an online Music & Wellness session for Veterans this week.

The Metro Music Therapy team spoke for a few minutes, sharing ways to decompress, de-stress, and to set oneself and their loved ones up for success when life feels out of control.

After the speaking portion, one of our team members led the participants in a live music and relaxation exercise, wherein each attendee participated in the way that they felt most comfortable.

We hope you enjoy a glimpse into our Music & Wellness Session for Veterans, which took place on August 24th. Thank you to all who attended (both those pictured and not pictured)!

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival 

Online Wellness Session for Veterans

Veterans are Hurting.

With the recent news of the events in Afghanistan, we know that Veterans are hurting, feeling overwhelmed, and may be triggered by what they see and hear on the news and social media. Our team is inviting Veterans to join us online on Tuesday, August 24th @ 8:00pm for a free Music & Wellness session.

The Metro Music Therapy team will be speaking for a few minutes, sharing ways to decompress, de-stress, and to set yourself and your loved ones up for success when life feels out of control.

After the speaking portion, one of our team members will lead the participants in a live music and relaxation exercise, wherein each attendee can participate in the way that they feel most comfortable.

Veterans of all ages are welcome to attend – please share this information within your personal and professional circles!

Registration is FREE and must be completed to gain access to the Zoom call — Registration closes at 1pm eastern on August 24th!

REGISTER NOW

Metro Serves All

The end of summer is quickly approaching! As enjoyable as this summer was, it’s time to start planning ahead for the fall and back-to-school months. The services Metro Music Therapy offers could be the perfect addition to you or your family’s schedule!

At Metro, we provide one-on-one and group services spanning multiple domains and diagnoses. Our team’s experience as board-certified music therapists allows us to cater to all client’s needs by tailoring each session to meet their desired goals and objectives. Our team serves the following populations…Developmental Delay, Autism, At-Risk Youth, Grief & Loss, Mental Health, Veterans, Refugees, and Hospice & Palliative Care. Visit our homepage, and click each box to read, in detail, exactly how we approach and carefully consider the needs of each client. 

If you think Metro would fit well into your weekly routine, give us a call or reach out via email! We would love to serve you in the near future. The end of summer is a perfect time to bring enhancement into your life! We look forward to hearing from you!

A Pandemic of Grief

One year ago the Covid-19 pandemic startled the world. With over 30 million cases recorded to date, the pandemic has caused a drastic shift in our everyday living. Will life ever be “normal” again? While that question still remains, one thing is known; grief has impacted all of our lives in some way.

Grief is defined as “the natural response to losing someone or something that is important to you.” Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, behavioral, cognitive, cultural, social, spiritual and philosophical dimensions as well. Losses such as a loved one, financial and job related losses, the feeling of normalcy, social and familial interaction, and certain freedoms we may have taken for granted have caused grief to be present in our current lives. Anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness are all common symptoms that can accompany grief.

While this is still a difficult time for many, Metro Music Therapy is here to provide ongoing support and comfort. Our experienced staff understand the difficulty and uniqueness of each circumstance faced by our clients. Metro recognizes that grief has no timeline and that your feelings and thoughts are valid. You are not alone.

If you or someone you know are interested in our grief and loss services, please visit the contact tab on our website to fill out our client intake form. You can also call us at 404.510.3799 if you have any further questions.

 

MMT is Expanding!

Metro Music Therapy has served the metro Atlanta area for almost 14 years … and we are thrilled to announce that we are now also serving the state of North Carolina! We will be providing in-person and telehealth services for clients and facilities in the Triangle and Triad areas.

If you are interested in partnering with us to bring music therapy to your loved one or to the clients of your facility, please reach out and let us know!

We can’t wait to begin serving you, North Carolina!

Why Music?

One of the strengths that music holds is that it can encourage, uplift and support. It can and does at times remind us of better days ahead and that we have the internal strength to get to those better days.

But I also believe that, unlike most other things in this world, music has the power to meet us where we are in the dark and deeply sorrowful places. It validates our feelings and acknowledges them without the push to also remind us of the good ahead. Music can just sit with us, free of judgement and opinion, and instead of saying, “this too shall pass,” say, “this hurts so much.”

The power and science behind music therapy comes from knowing what we need from music and when.

We are with you, and we are for you. Let us know how we can help you.

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