Bridging sessions and client’s home life is a crucial part of therapy. This experience takes a non-musical interest in reading and uses music as a creative container! Music becomes the bridge between the narrative in the novel and personal meaning.

Instructions:

1. Select a Novel
   • Engage client in discussion about what novels peak their interest
   • Take time to look up novels, look up content/story summaries, etc, to decide which novel to read
2. Session Following Reading:
   1. Check in & Grounding
      • Begin with a brief musical grounding experience
        • i.e. steady pulse, drone, or preferred song excerpt
      • Transition with a neutral prompt
        • “Where are you at in the book right now?”
        • “Anything that stood out to you since we last met?”
        • “What was your favorite reading this week?”
        • “What’s happening in the story now?”
      • Allow the client to choose the depth of discussion
   2. Choose the focus
      • Client selects one of the following to explore musically:
        • Character
        • Relationship
        • Scene
        • Decision or turning point
        • Emotion or theme
   3. Music Based Processing Options:
      • A:Character Theme Music
        • Client assigns musical element to a character:
          • Tempo- emotional state
          • Instrument- personality
          • Harmony- internal conflict
        • Therapist supports improvisation or composition
          • Reflection prompt:
            • “If this character had a soundtrack right now, what would it sound like?”
            • Optional to use a music player to create an actual soundtrack
      • B: Scene Soundtrack Creation
        • Identify a meaningful scene
        • Client creates background music or soundscape to match
          • Rising tension
          • Emotional release
          • Stillness or uncertainty
        • Therapist mirrors or co-creates
      • C: Lyric Reflection
        • Client writes lyrics:
          • From a character’s perspective
          • As a letter to/from a character
          • Using quote or paraphrased themes
        • Can be sung, spoken, or rhythmically chanted
      • D: Musical Decision Point
        • Identify a choice a character makes
        • Explore it musically:
          • Two contrasting musical selections
          • Call-and-response representing internal dialogue
      • E: Musical Reading Journal
        • Using client’s preferred music listening platform, create playlists for books they are currently reading or that they have read in the past and enjoyed
        • Alternatively, create playlists based on the musical “scene” they want to set while reading, which can be tailored to their average reading session time (like 30 minutes of ambient folk instrumental music, for example)
   4. Verbal Processing & Integration
      • Connect the music back to the narrative:
        • “What did the music say that the words didn’t?”
        • “Did anything about this feel familiar?”
   5. Between Session Optional Prompts
      • Encourage the client that, as they read:
        • Notice moments that feel “musical”
        • Pay attention to scenes that feel loud, quiet, or tense.
      • In the downloadable material there is also a printable worksheet for reflection as the client reads if appropriate
   6. Continue through as many sessions as needed, reading at whatever pace the client sets.

Client examples from an actual session (shared with permission) using the book “Strangers in Time” by David Baldacci:

• The playlist below was created by the client in reference to a theme discussed from the novel of human resilience and strength in hard times.
  • Each song was chosen by the client or shared by the MT-BC, listened to and discussed as to how it reflects the overall theme, a playlist was created for the client to keep and listen back to
  • The client will also take this theme of resilience and write a song based off of this idea
• This concept was created specifically for this client from these examples. He really loves to read and finds it a helpful coping mechanism for his anxiety. He loves reading within themes during certain times of the year and reading books that uplift him. He inspired the idea by asking to bring his reading into the session more.