Time for a little Musical Therapy

Today let’s talk about music therapy.  Music is something that can trigger memories and emotions and is known to hold many therapeutic qualities, such as helping to calm, promoting wellness, and assisting in expression of emotion.  In relation to Disney therapy, sometimes having the musical triggers are the next best thing to being there!  When I can’t be at Disney, one of my favorite things to do to soothe the “Disney blues” is to listen to music from the parks and resorts.  Over my many trips to the World, I have built up a large collection of CD's that allow me to revisit through the music.  Background tunes from my favorite lands or rides, sounds from the resorts, and parade and fireworks music can transport me to Disney while sitting at my desk, driving in the minivan or cleaning my house.  I also use the music in DVD slide shows I make of our trips, connecting those memories with specific songs.  

Now if you don’t have these CD's, don’t worry, there are other options for getting your Disney music therapy via the internet.  About two years ago, I discovered Live 365, an internet site with independent radio stations broadcasting a wide variety of music.  During a Disney music search, I lucked upon several stations broadcasting music found inside the Disney parks (not just tunes from movies or television shows).  It was then that I became a huge fan of Magical Mouse Radio, Sorcerer Radio, WDW Live radio, and more.  I would highly recommend that everyone take the time to visit these stations and enjoy the sounds of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.  Not to mention the resorts.  My favorite musical loop on Magical Mouse Radio is the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It brings back vivid memories of our stays at the Lodge and just makes me want to go “home” again.  

So get your dose of Disney music therapy today, and let the music take you to the most magical place on Earth!  And to those of you who engage in regular Disney music therapy, what song or music loop is the most therapeutic for you?

For those who are interested in the actual practice of music therapy, please visit the American Music Therapy Association website at http://www.musictherapy.org/ or you can find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AMTAInc .

Welcome To My Blog!

Welcome to this blog!  I’m so glad you decided to check it out.  As you read in the title, this blog is about my therapy, otherwise known as Disney therapy!  I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist, primarily working with children who are dealing with issues of abuse, neglect, depression, fear, difficult family situations, mental illness, and so on.  As you can imagine, it can be a very tough job, and I have always thought of Disney as my therapy…the thing that helps me to stay sane and to keep my focus on the joy in life.  I’ve always loved Disney, and every time I visit Walt Disney World, it renews my faith in magic, in innocence, and the pure joy within each of us. 

As a therapist, I know that one very useful therapy tool is a journal.  So this blog will serve that purpose for my Disney therapy.  I will journal about different ways Disney serves as my therapy, highlighting some of the amazing people in the Disney community, things everyone can do to bring the magic back into their lives, and just some really fun Disney related stuff!  I may also throw some true therapy stuff in there as well, especially information for parents about some of the issues children are dealing with now, in hopes that it will help you help your kids when they are facing tough times.  I hope you find something helpful, useful, or just something that makes you smile when you read it.  So, let’s get started!