Art therapy is an alternative treatment method that psychologists are increasingly taking note of in their practices. The foundation of art therapy is the use of art and the creative process to facilitate healing and a sense of wellness in those seeking mental healing and treatment. This kind of therapy is used as an adjunct therapy with a broad spectrum of populations. Children, adolescents, adults and elders can all benefit from the artistic self-expression principles involved in this discipline.

Art therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a vast array of mental disorders such as anxiety, Depression, domestic violence, trauma, addiction, grief and psychosocial problems related to medical conditions.  A wide variety of settings facilitate the use of art therapy including wellness centers, private practices, hospitals, shelters and schools.

The mediums of painting, sculpture, collage and drawing are common visual tools used in the process of art therapy. Some therapists have broadened their practice of art therapy to include other artistic expressions such as dance, writing, photography, music and film. These alternative forms of creativity offer opportunities for growth and transformation similar to the mixed arts that are more traditionally used in the practice of creative therapy.

The American Art Therapy Association is a non-profit organization that promotes “standards of professional competence” and also works to share information with the general public and other professionals about creative therapy. The AATA’s educational requirements for entry into the profession of art therapy specify that a master’s degree in counseling with a major in art therapy is necessary.  Read more...

Hearing is conversely associated with speech in that initial communication and hence understanding, arises primarily from learning spoken language through listening and building up symbolic thinking processes. This is why speech therapy is a must for people with hearing impairment.

1.Developing Auditory Awareness

Auditory awareness is the ability to be conscious of the fact that sound is present. During this period, the child is to learn to wear appropriate amplification. Therapy involves playing with toys that make sounds and listening to music.

2.Developing Auditory Attention or Listening

Auditory attention is the ability to give some real notice or interest to the sound that is heard.

The clinician focuses the child’s attention to the sound by saying two or three times: Listen, I hear something. What is that? The clinician pats his ears, but does not show the source of the sound until the child is listening. The clinician rewards the child’s attention by showing the source of the sound.

3.Developing Auditory Localization and Distance Hearing

Auditory localization is the ability to recognize the direction from which the sound is coming from. Distance hearing, on the other hand, is the ability to hear the sound even from afar.

The therapist shows the child how to respond whenever he hears a sound. Some of the activities are opening the door when someone knocks, dancing to music, clapping to music, building blocks when a sound is heard, marching to a drum and picking the phone up when it rings.  Read more...

Seventh limb of the eight limb of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Meditation, implies focusing the mind’s energy at one point to create a deep state of relaxation and tranquility. Meditation calms one’s mind, enriches concentration leading an individual to a heightened level of awareness. Fluctuations of the mind ceases and one discover the all-encompassing stillness. Meditation, by weakening those elements of the mind which leads to negative thoughts, helps to maintain and control the thought processes of an individual. As the fluctuations of the mind ceases, the individual can concentrate on the single point. This stage ultimately leads to the equilibrium of mind. A serene state of mind is experienced, which in the process, liberates him/her from anxiety, depression and stress. With meditation, the body is relaxed and he mind is rejuvenated. Since thousand of years, meditation is known to alleviate suffering and promote healing. The psychosomatic illnesses are healed with meditation. By erasing the negative thoughts, meditation channelizes the mind and soul and lead them to a spiritual insight. It helps one to develop the latent powers of mind. Meditation can be well accompanied by a soothing music. Since time immemorial, meditation, yoga and music are intrinsically related to one another. Music have a healing and soothing effect on the listener’s mind and right kind of meditation and yoga music balances the human organism through its rhythmic pattern of tones. Be it any yoga form, Kundalini Yoga or Hatha Yoga, Bikrama Yoga or Iyengar Yoga, music have a strong effect on the mind, brain and nervous system of an individual. Right kind of meditation music gifts a calming and refreshing meditative mood and leads one to a harmonious waking state. Meditation music should inspire feelings of joy and calmness of mind. Soothing music, by drowning all other disrupting noises, can inspire one and elevate his consciousness. Listening to it, improves mental and physical health and relieves stress. Spirit Voyage, the online music company, offers a number of meditation and yoga music CDs and DVDs aiding a listener to soothe his mind, body and spirit. The spiritual meditation music collection aids in healing and relaxation. The Kundalini Sadhana Music collection includes the set of seven meditations, Aquarian Sadhana by Yogi Bhajan, that are to be chanted every morning. Aquarian by Nirinjan Kaur, Kundalini Meditation by Harijiwan Khalsa, Illumination by Guru Shabad Singh Khalsa, Live At Five! by GuruGanesha Singh, Melody and Majesty by Satkirin Kaur Khalsa are some of the exclusive music for Kundalini meditations. Spirit Voyage offers Meditation Music for Relaxation. This kind of music is suited for relaxation, creating an environment of deep meditation and relax the body and mind. Yoga Living Series – Meditative Moon by Spirit Voyage Artists, Sanctuary by Donna De Lory, EPIPHANY by Manose are some of the wonderful music collection that promotes peace and leads a mind to a realm of tranquility. Gongs are believed to be one of the most deep and expansive healing instrument. the vibration of the gong facilitates our connection with the infinite higher self. A gong vibration strengthen the mind and the nervous system instantly. Spirit Voyage offers Gongs, Bells & Bowls CDs. These CDs, compiling the sounds of gongs and bells, create vigorous frequencies that are ideal for healing, meditation and relaxation. Spirit Voyage also offers Healing and Massage Therapy Music CDs that are used in Reiki healing sessions and other therapy sessions. Liquid Bells Tibetan Bowls by Damien Rose, Invocation of Divine Light by Gurunam Joseph Michael Levry, The Essential Touch by James Asher, Healing Ragas by Mandala are few CDs among the myriad collection. Japji Sahib and Daily Banis from Spirit Voyage mediation music collection includes audio and video CDs that helps one to focus on meditation and induce the deep transformational process as the aspirant recites Japji and other daily banis. Japji Sahib by WAH!, Jaap Sahib by Sat Nirmal Kaur Khalsa, So Purkh by Nirinjan Kaur are some of the exclusive CDs in the offering. Different Yoga DVD collection from Spirit Voyage includes some fantastic composition which produce a meditative mood and improves mental and physical health. A Kundalini Yoga DVD or the a General Yoga DVD, Bhangra DVD or Children’s yoga DVDs shall be your gateway to find inner peace and explore the spiritual aspects of yoga. Let your mind and spirit diffuse in the supreme consciousness with the Spirit Voyage music as you lead yourself to a divine odyssey with yoga and meditation music.  Read more...

Many forms of meditation are applicable to many situations. If you’re a music lover, then perhaps you might want to try meditation music. In fact, as a human being, you can be compared to musical instruments because you can hum, sing, whistle, and make other pleasing and expressive sounds. Every person’s musical experience is often described with words like harmony, flow, stimulate, healing, in trance, in tune, uplift, and many others. When you express yourself through musical sounds, something unusual is happening inside your system.

Numerous distractions bombard individuals as they go through their daily lives like noise pollution, social melodrama, stress of daily commute, tedium of work, and a lot more. Life today is considered fast-paced because of a lot of new technological advancements, and therefore, people suffer from continuing stress. You can’t focus on your work effectively because your mind is already overloaded, uninspired, and burnt out. This results to a creativity block that can bring hopelessness to a person. But here’s the good news, there is a way to combat and cope with this kind of situation and that is through deep meditation music.

Where can you find such music? If you have no idea, then it would be better to ask the help of someone with knowledge about music meditation. On the net, you can find several sites that provide pre-recorded programs on music meditation.

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