West Portland District Meeting

10:00am-12:00pm Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024

Christ United Methodist Church

Presenter: Emily Ross, Music Therapist

Fragile Folks: Working with Anxious Music Students

Does it seem like you are seeing more tears in the piano studio than you used to? Or students just completely shutting down? You are not alone. Understanding anxiety on a neurological and on a cultural level can help you navigate these tricky waters. Anxiety is a particularly hairy concept as it is both a general descriptor and a diagnosis. Because we have all felt it, it can be uncomfortable to talk about. Emily Ross, board-certified music therapist, has your back. This workshop will focus on clarifying definitions and the cultural context of anxiety. It will also cover newer terminology such as Trauma-Informed Care and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Finally, Emily will present concrete strategies to support a student without crossing into a therapist role.