A Therapeutic Space (By: Jordan Elias)

Before any music is made, the space we share can contribute a lot to the growth of both the group and the individuals in it. A welcoming space doesn’t exclude anyone; it offers opportunities for everyone to participate in whatever way works best for them. Stepping into that therapeutic space, we can signal that there’s no right way to participate and no one way to succeed.

Students collaborating on a songwriting project at a community youth music therapy program.

That also means it’s up to the group to come to an agreement about what that means. A set of shared goals and values are foundational to any music making. The quality and inclusivity of a space is formed by individuals agreeing on what it means to respect each other and what we want to accomplish.

The therapist might be thinking about these things throughout the group. Who is feeling invested in what we are working on? Who might be willing to try something new with just a little encouragement? Who might be feeling uncomfortable? What are everyone’s boundaries?

When building community in a group, a central question the therapist might ask is, what is each participant getting from the experience?

The values that we can all get behind are what transform a room with four walls into a therapeutic space.