Summer Reading with MTSP
Check out Music Therapy St. Pete’s Summer Reads!
Now that school is out and many of us have a little more room to breathe, enjoy some of our team’s music therapy related book recommendations! Whether you are looking to learn from autistic perspectives, find tools for memory care groups, lean deeper into neuroscience, or read about the intersection of music and culture, we have a book for you.
Magnificent Minds
Written by Dr. Suzanne Goh
In Magnificent Minds, author and pediatric neurologist, Dr. Suzanne Goh, shares her “whole-child approach” to autism. This is a care model that emphasizes individual strengths. The book starts with an in-depth exploration of autism and neurodiversity; shares a multi-faceted approach to health and wellness guided by awareness of brain-body health, development, behavior, family, and community; and concludes with messages of hope and a call to action.
One of the points I found most impactful was Dr. Goh’s discussion of strengths. Throughout Magnificent Minds, Dr. Goh defines strengths as an ability – “Something someone can do, and when they do it, it serves them well” (2024, p. 36). This challenged the way I view my clients and myself.
Another standout is “Chapter 6: A Developmental Symphony”, in which Dr. Goh describes how the autistic brain develops differently than neurotypical brains. She highlights altered connectivity, electric activity, global and local processing, and cognitive control. This book goes beyond what we recognize externally as autism and challenges us to think about what happens inside the brain to change the way someone processes the world.
Lights in the Darkness
Written by Forging Friendships Advocates
This anthology contains writings from sixteen nonspeaking teenagers and young adults who are students, poets, authors, advocates, and creators. Each poem, song, essay, and reflection is impactful and speaks to a different area of their experience, including mental health, travel, religion, and communication. These individuals connect regularly online through a group called Forging Friendships (see more at Meraki Collective) to have conversations and share ideas and visions. You will feel their hearts in this collection that brings the world together.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
- “I am passionate about traveling the world, and equally passionate about seeing other eyes wide open when discovering all that surrounds us. I am letting observers watch, because I look forward to the day when humanity can look at each other. Look at us neurodiverse with our disobedient bodies with love and respect as we too look at all nature – with curiosity, with love and respect – so much to learn!" - Nico Segrera (2024, p. 66)
- “Lyrical writing kept me regulated when I was working to gain open communication with multiple partners. My lyrics became downright awesome. To be able to let my colorful expression luminate through lyrics was and is freeing. It lets people see a different part of me.” - Caden Rainey (2024, p. 54)
- “I’m hu man. Hu in Latin is humi. It means on the ground, to ground. And hue, its homophone, mean – and get this! – a property of light! But also and appearance, form, species, character, beauty. Or, hear this… Outcry!” - Lucy Cohen (2024, p. 16)
Musicophilia
By Oliver Sacks
A British neurologist tells tales of his encounters with music and the brain in the people he has cared for over his career. More light stories than a scientific analysis, the tales shared here include people from many populations music therapists work with, including those with Williams syndrome, dementia, or hallucinations. It is perfect for exploring the connection between music and the brain without getting too technical.
Music & Life in the Field of Play
Compiled by Dr. Carolyn Kenny
For MT-BCs working with children, the author highlights how to work collaboratively with clients, creating a safe place for them to explore. Instead of “doing” and focusing on an agenda, Dr. Kenny encourages therapists to simply “be” with their clients and teaches about the connection between client and therapist. This anthology of writings from journals, books, previously unpublished papers, and case studies also illuminates the intersection of music therapy with Indigenous Studies, another of Dr. Kenny’s areas of expertise.
Effective Helping - Interviewing and Counseling Techniques
Written by Barbara F. Okun and Ricki E. Kantrowitz
Effective Helping is a beneficial read for those wanting additional tools to dig deeper with clients. The first chapters explore helping relationships in a general format, and focus on the communication skills needed to build rapport and continue connection with clients. In later chapters, the authors discuss varying theories of helping, strategies to use with clients during counseling, and provide case studies, questions for personal reflection, and exercises to practice taught skills.
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Our team hopes you enjoy checking out this mix of informative, impactful, poetic, and creative writings over the next few months! We’d love to hear your thoughts or your own music therapy related reading recommendations on our instagram @musictherapystpete
Six-Month Chrysalis
Compiled by Sarah R. Sendlbeck and edited by Barbara L. Reuer
Interns at Music Therapy St. Pete read this collection of experiences from prior interns at MusicWorx early in their internship! These reflections are divided into several themed chapters, allowing the reader to easily access the topic areas that are most relevant to them. Each chapter provides valuable lessons and includes questions that open up space for dialogue, self-reflection, and learning.
At the beginning of my own internship, chapters 3, 4, and 11 stood out to me. Chapter 3 pushed me to reflect on being present rather than agenda-driven when clients need someone to listen in a physically, mentally, or emotionally challenging moment. Chapter 4 challenged how I thought about biases and background information on clients. Many of the sessions the intern authors chose to write about started without any information about the client. Their stories highlighted how the interns were freed to view the client without preconceptions or how their initial assumptions impacted their connection with the client. Seeing how these judgments often hindered their work, I felt inspired to actively be open-minded and aware of my own assumptions. Finally, Chapter 11 gave accounts of incredible impact and encouraged me to press onward, knowing I would have my own moments to share during my journey.
Fun fact: Two of MTSP’s music therapists, Whitney Perry and Elise Scullin, interned at MusicWorx!
The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks
Written by Gregory C Tino
Written entirely using a letterboard to communicate, this collection of poetry, art, and reflections illuminates the autistic perspective. In The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks, Gregory Tino shares pieces of his story in vignettes about learning to communicate, relationships with his family, struggles, and unique sensory experiences. Embedded within each poem and experience are insights about how to better understand and support autistic people.
Shared below are some of my favorite quotes!
- “Because I was never really able to talk, people assume I am not capable of higher thought. I am here to tell you that is definitely not true! I am capable of an amazing level of complex thought and intellect. I don't mean to brag, but it is true. My autistic brain is like a computer with a very sad, outdated body. I pray every day that some doctor or researcher will let me out of this prison” (2020, p. 31).
- “One of the best perks of my autism is synesthesia. Synesthesia is when there is an overlap in your senses. Basically it is when one sense is stimulated another one is too. Many autistics have this as well as some artists. It is beautiful sometimes. When I listen to certain music I see gorgeous colors. Elvis Presly always enables me to see gold and yellow fluttering down from the sky. Nat King Cole and his Christmas Song has me seeing hues of purple, maroon, and brown. Take my word for it that it is beautiful! The colors are so rich and vibrant unlike the colors here on Earth!” (pp. 62-63).
- “I am proving that autism is not a curse, but a blessing that needs to be uncovered” (p. 13).
Music, Memory, and Meaning
Written by Meredith Hamons, Tara Jenkins, and Cathy Befi-Hensel
This book contains helpful insights and practical resources to connect with older adults. It pairs songs with multiple interventions and a variety of recall or reminiscence questions, ranging from simple to complex. It provides a quick, easy guide for starting lyrical discussions or exploring symbolism and personal reflections. At the end of the book are lists of themed session ideas with a song compilation for each! With some songs or themes, I tend to become stuck in my own rut of ideas and lose my creativity. Reading new ideas of questions or songs gives me somewhere new to start from or fuels my own creativity so I can brainstorm from a new angle.
This Is Your Brain on Music
By Daniel J. Levitin
Similarly to Musicophilia, the topic of this book is music and the brain. However, instead of a story-telling style, Levitin answers questions about how music impacts the brain using neuroscience and psychology. For example, he explains how our preference for musical styles is connected to its predictability, multiple trace theory (describing how each song creates a unique impact on our brain), music’s connection to pleasure, and music’s role in society.
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us
Written by Hanif Abdurraqib
In this collection of essays, Hanif Abdurraqib explores the influence of music on life and the world through personal reflections, essays on music, and commentary on culture and societal issues. Abdurraqib describes the impact of performances from artists of diverse musical genres (Carly Rae Jepsen, Chance the Rapper, My Chemical Romance, and more) in areas of loss and grief, identity, and trauma. If you are interested in learning and thinking more about music without turning on your clinical brain, this book is for you!
This book does not contain explicit content, but is recommended for adult readers as it touches on sensitive and heavy topics.
Fun fact: This book is free to listen to if you use Spotify Premium, and the audiobook is read by the author!
