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Deep Diving in the Unconscious: accessing hidden parts through the aesthetic and emotional nature of Music

Join Helen Mason for our latest free webinar and discover the benefits of this exciting form of creative therapy 

Friday 2 June 2023 

11.00 – 12.00 midday 

Music has long been a passion for Helen Mason. When she was in her 20s living in Oxford, Helen worked as a musician playing flute in a band, touring and performing in both the UK and abroad. Nowadays Helen continues to enjoy a wide range of different types of music including electronic composition and playing the classical piano – combined with her role as a qualified music therapist. In this article, we explore why Helen decided to change career to help clients, using the power of music.  

Inspiration and discovery into the world of music therapy  

Helen’s journey into music therapy came following an opportunity to work in a local hospital with patients experiencing various mental health conditions. It was a profoundly moving experience; and showed how music could make people more relaxed, connect people socially and reduce isolation.  

  A change of career beckoned; and Helen moved to Bristol where she commenced her Postgraduate diploma in Music Therapy training under the guidance of Professor Leslie Bunt, a very respected music therapy practitioner and trainer.   

  Helen is a qualified music therapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has had over 30 years’ experience working as a music therapist with a diverse range of client groups, mostly adults, in a variety of settings including the NHS. Having done a further in-depth training in Music and Imagery she is also a Fellow of the Association of Music and Imagery (FAMI). Some of her clients work in the creative industries, such as writer’s and film makers. Helen also enjoys her work with arts therapists and counsellors in training, offering supervision for Guided Imagery and Music practitioners and students.   

Music and imagery therapy – providing a sensory and immersive experience  

Therapeutic practitioners are skilled and eloquent in using words to help our clients; talking and listening are of course fundamental to therapeutic work. Nonetheless, therapy using music and imagery offers something different and complementary to written and spoken language – as sometimes words are not enough.  

Helen uses pre-recorded music for her sessions; mostly classical music from western composers. However, she does include music from other composers from different cultures and musical genres too including more contemporary creators.  

  

Join us on 2 June for our free webinar with Helen Mason  

During the webinar, Helen will provide examples of how the harmonies, melodies and timbre of the sound can offer an immersive experience to the client, helping with healing and growth. Helen will play some musical excerpts as well as sharing images, and give examples of the techniques she uses during a client session.   

The free webinar is on Friday 2 June between 11.00 am – 12 midday:  

More information about Helen Mason  

 Website

LinkedIn profile  

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Reflections on this year’s ACTO conference

Reflections on this year’s ACTO conference

Reflections on this year’s ACTO conference

Evidence-based research and high standards of practice are more important than ever,

says Kiren Sweetman

Kiren Sweetman is a person-centred counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She is also a director of ACTO. In this article, Kiren reflects on the ACTO conference held in November 2022.

Friday evening’s panel discussion: taking stock

On the Friday evening there was an interesting and thought-provoking panel discussion involving many of the founding figures of online therapy. At the end of the discussion, a short debate took place on the subject of taking stock and consolidating our work.

This talk made me think about my own experiences.

After qualifying as a counsellor, I felt that I needed to get as much CPD under my belt as possible and to do as many workshops as I could.  Actually, now I feel that it would have been far more productive to just reflect on my existing learning, and to refine that rather than rushing towards new training.  I wish I had known this sooner.

Adult Autism: Unexplored Territory

I found that the presentation on autism by Vauna Beauvais and Eoin Stephens has really peaked my interest in finding out more about neurodivergent clients.  The comparison to being left-handed in a world geared towards right-handed people really hit home for me.

Music Imagery Therapy – Helen Mason

I knew nothing about Music Imagery Therapy before the Conference and was fascinated about how music can be applied to the therapy space, and how imagery may assist clients and the therapeutic relationship.

Overall reflections

I was pleased that the Conference focused in some part on innovation and creativity but it also emphasised the need for evidence-based research – and for high standards of practice moving forwards.

Well done to the presenters and organising team. It was a highly productive event and extremely informative. I can’t wait for next year’s conference! 

Kiren

Missed this year’s conference?

You can view the full recording of the workshop at your leisure for just £24.99 (ACTO members: £20).

Order the recording

  • Come back to the recording at any time and pick up where you left off.
  • Watch the video as many times as you wish to deeply embed the learning.
  • View the whole video to access a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certificate. The Certificate is proof of your commitment to continuing and deepening your learning as a practitioner.

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