Conversation
Some sessions are entirely talking. Verbal processing runs through all of my work — this is therapy, and music doesn't replace the conversation.
How I work
What happens in a session
You don't play an instrument or sing, and you don't need any background in music. Most of the people I work with have none.
Format: Individual sessions are in-person or online in the San Francisco Bay Area, and online across the United States.
The form a session takes
Four ways a session can go
We decide as we go, based on where you are that week.
Listening together
I choose a piece of music for where you are that day, we listen, and you tell me what came up. We then work with that. This fits within a standard hour.
A full Guided Imagery and Music session
Ninety minutes to two hours, with a programmed sequence of classical music. This is the longest and most involved form, and we usually build toward it rather than beginning there.
Making music
Improvisation, songwriting or voice work. I trained in Analytical Music Therapy and Vocal Psychotherapy at NYU. This is often useful for people who have difficulty speaking about something directly.
Guided Imagery and Music
What a full GIM session involves
A programmed sequence of classical music serves two purposes at once. It opens up inner experience, and its structure gives that experience a shape to move through.
You'll be reclining, fully clothed, and awake and talking throughout. You can stop at any point. People do stop sometimes, and it isn't a problem.
I'm a music therapist who practices Guided Imagery and Music, trained in the Bonny Method. It is one of the methods I use, not the whole of my practice.
More on individual GIM sessions, including preparation and integration work →
01
We talk — about 20 minutes
Where you are today and what you'd like the session to hold. This is what I use to choose the music.
02
I select the program — about 15 minutes
A sequence matched to what you've brought. There are established programs for grief, for opening up, and for steadying.
03
A relaxation induction — about 10 minutes
Closer to deep reverie than to sleep. It is not hypnosis; you keep full control and you'll remember the session.
04
The music — 30 to 45 minutes
Images, colors, memories and physical sensations may come up. You describe them as they happen. I stay with you and reflect back, and I don't direct what you see.
05
Returning and integrating — 15 to 20 minutes
Often some drawing, then conversation. Integration continues over the following days, which is expected and part of how the method works.
Common questions
What this is not
Not hypnosis
You remain awake and aware, you decide what you say, and you'll remember the session afterward.
Not a psychedelic experience
Nothing is administered. The shift comes from relaxation and music. I do not provide, source or advise on any substance.
Not a music lesson or a performance
You don't play or sing, and no musical knowledge is needed. Many of my clients don't listen to classical music otherwise.
Not something done to you
The imagery is yours and the pace is yours. My role is to choose the music well and stay present while you work.
Practical details
Time, place and fees
Length and frequency
Standard sessions are 50 to 60 minutes; a full GIM session is 90 to 120. Most people come weekly or every other week.
Location
In person or by video in the San Francisco Bay Area, and by video across the United States. I'll give you the address when we schedule.
Fees
I discuss fees during the consultation, once I know which kind of sessions would suit you. You're welcome to ask by email beforehand.
Insurance
I don't bill insurance. You'll receive a Good Faith Estimate in writing before we begin. Some clients are able to use an HSA or FSA.
Getting started
A free twenty-minute consultation by phone or video. You're welcome to ask anything, including practical questions about how it works.