The iso principle is a commonly used and well known technique among music therapists.  The iso principle is “a technique by which music is matched with the mood of a client, then gradually altered to affect the desired mood state.  This technique can also be used to affect physiological responses such as heart rate and blood pressure.” (Davis, Gfeller, & Thaut, 2008).  Utilizing the iso principle can be an extremely effective tool to alter emotional symptoms (mood) and physic

These thoughts are inspired by Kayla Shafer’s post from July, in which she argued that what determines the success of a music therapy session is less about the therapist’s choices than one might expect–that in fact, an important element is the client’s belief  in music as a therapeutic medium. This idea had not occurred to me, but immediately felt true, and I’ve been thinking ever since about the nature of that belief: what does it mean to believe in the music, and what can t

Prior to becoming a music therapist, I spent many years teaching piano lessons. As a new music therapist, I found myself returning to...