No, I didn't just learn to go potty all by myself. But I did just conduct my first session as a board certified music therapist! Now I know this might not mean much to everyone else, but it's kind of a big deal to me! Of course it wasn't 100% perfect or how I had pictured it going, but it was a learning experience. And I did it all by myself.
For the past five years, I have had to do sessions a certain way, do a certain amount of documentation, report to certain people, etc. Now, I'm kind of my own boss. I don't have to ask if I did something right or wrong. I'm not filling out five pages of documentation for someone to grade. There's no one looking over my should to tell me every mistake I make. I tailor the session to how I think the client will best respond. If it doesn't work out like I want it to, it's ok. I will just try something different next week. The only documentation I have to fill out right now are two time sheets. That's crazy!
It's so surreal transferring from a student to a full-fledged music therapist. I still have that feeling like I have to talk to someone about what I should've done differently, what I could've done better. But now it's all up to me. I get to decide what didn't go well and what will change for the next session. I'm the one of the people the MT students will come to with questions and concerns about how they are performing next year. Wow!
Anyway, I just wanted to share that little glimpse of my future now. I'll be doing a session every Friday throughout July, and I will possibly start doing nursing home sessions as well. Bring it on!
