Today I'm going to continue the series highlighting some of the therapies used in complementary and alternative medicine by introducing you to music therapy. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is the "clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program". In other words, music therapists first evaluate a patient to assess physical health, emotional well being, social functioning, cognitive and/or communiction skills and then prescribe therapy using music to address that patients needs while participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning, evaluation and follow up. The types of treatment prescribed by a music therapist may include listening to music, writing and/or performing music, music evaluation and learning through music. It's used to aid in the treatment in a number of conditions, including alzheimers, depression and other mental issues, developmental issues, physical problems, substance abuse and brain injuries. I even read in an article in Prevention magazine many months ago that they are using music therapy to help COPD and emphysema patients develop lung capacity by having them play a recorder or similar instrument.
We all know from personal experience that music has an impact on our lives in many ways, from soothing us when we are feeling blue to helping us celebrate, exercise or otherwise enjoy the positive things in life. Music therapists understand the profound impact music can have on our overall well being and incorporate it into helping their patients achieve healing and balance. The URL I linked to above links to the American Music Therapy website's frequently asked questions sections, which goes into the history of music therapy as well as providing more detailed information on how the therapies are applied, where music therapists work and a whole host of other information, if you are interested. The following excellent video also shows how music therapy is used. Enjoy!
this is also used in yoga. To do this, you may want to use a pillow, or sit on the floor. Cross your right foot over your left thigh and your left foot over your right thigh. Your knees should touch the floor. Rest your hands on your thighs as your palms face upward. This position is difficult to attain because you need to be very flexible. If you are just starting out, sit "Indian style", with your knees bent and feet crossed at your ankles. With practice you will eventually be able to achieve the lotus position. It really doesn't matter how you sit, as long as you are fully relaxed.
event, your pulse rate increases, this is how our mind effects our body. If we can use this technique in a constructive manner, we can will ourselves back to physical and emotional health. You may be wondering how this occurs, it happens because mental imagery has a deep effect on the hypothalamus, or the part of our brain that controls our endocrine and nervous systems. These systems regulate blood flow, heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves, and the release of chemicals and hormones in our body. If an over-abundance of chemicals/hormones are produced, it can lead to stress, flight/fight response, depression, and more. 
peace and contentment. Next, visualize a bright white light that envelopes and shields you from negative energy.
Dog parks offer two great benefits for the people that bring their dogs there, as well as a ton of benefits for the dog. The one I went to was a huge park on the side of the airport, with a wetland, trails, woods, and open fields. We would walk about a mile total through the trails, then meet in the main field to play with the other dogs. While Abby was off making new friends, I quickly learned that there is a HUGE community of people with common interests to get to know. The dog parks are amazing places for both people and dogs to socialize. You meet people with the same passion for dogs that you have, and get to talk about things from dog food and toys to legislation and politics. Every one says "Hi!", and you get to the point that people know you (usually as the guy with the rottie, but that's OK!) and stop and talk with you as they pass you on the trails. 
The main difference between grief and depression concerns the presence or absense of self-esteem and guilt. When a person is experiencing depression, there is typically a loss of self-esteem and overall feeling of guilt. This can be somewhat complicated, as some people will experience guilt as a result of the loss of a loved one, but this type of guilt is specific to the event of loss. It is helpful to consider seeking help through counseling if you are unsure about your reactions to the loss or would like support through the mourning process.
After reading 
In order for bed-wetting to be completely eradicated, you need therapeutic counseling, as well as behavior modification. You must be able to understand the underlying emotional issues that caused enuresis in the first place so that they are not manifested in another way. Most children with this problem tend to have low self-esteem, you have to work on building their self concept. This will occur when they see that they are getting better.
In reading some of these other blogs, and then reviewing my own posts, I am noticing that issues that affect mental health seem to travel in packs. I have talked about anxiety and depression, as well as how 
go to the gym and work out for hours, only to go home and do the same thing all over again. He knew that he had a problem so he was getting counseling in a group setting with others like him, During the therapy session Sam and the others would have to discuss their eating patterns for the week, if they engaged in negative habits, they would have to admit it. The mental health practitioner was just awful and she would scream at them for doing this. Needless to say, the therapist's approach was more harmful than helpful. Sam kept binging and purging every time he was stressed out over something. Of course, this was a television show and they had to make it more juicy. In reality, during a mental health counseling session, the therapist will not embarrass you like this and if they do, it is time to find a new counselor.
conscious. They are constantly getting on a scale,
looking in a mirror, and measuring or pinching themselves to see if
there is any fat. The self worth of an individual with bulimia is
directly related to how they perceive their body shape and weight.
carbohydrates such as sweets, fats, and anything with high caloric content. This obsessive eating pattern is of course done in privacy as they don't want others to witness this inappropriate behavior. 
and their family support and understanding from others who have similar issues. No longer are they so alone. There are hospitals and clinics with out patient programs to help those with eating disorders.
sunlight to help his patients recuperate from illnesses. Hundreds of years later, European psychiatrists and psychotherapists utilized light to aid mentally ill patients. It is no surprise that today, light is hailed as an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD in adults and children, as well as some skin conditions and jaundice in newborn babies.
seems like an eternity. You keep thinking to
yourself, "I wish it were spring." Sound familiar? Many of us feel a
little blue at this time of year. We may be a bit lethargic, or
wish that we could stay in our warm bed a little longer, some of us
even gain some weight. This is normal. However, if you are really
down, have no energy, are having difficulties at work as well as with your significant others and can't see a way through it, you may have the mental
health condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This condition can be debilitating because is stops you from engaging in your usual activities. 
waking patterns. Melatonin is essential for sleep and is produced primarily at night while we rest. During the dark winter months, the production of melatonin increases and can make us drowsy and lethargic. An increase of light is needed for the production of serotonin. So as you can see, we have the perfect conditions for depression, too much darkness and not enough light.
professional who understands your mental health, really helps. One of the symptoms of depression is extreme negative feelings about yourself and life in general. A therapist can help you gain an awareness of why you have this condition and assist in setting up an appropriate method of treatment. In addition to counseling, prescription medications such as antidepressants may be prescribed as they are used to regulate the production of melatonin and serotonin. 
depression. We all sing the "Blues" once in a while, especially during the winter months
when there is less sunlight. As a matter of fact there is a mental
health condition called 
A
good example of this concept is the childhood game of telephone, the
first person whispers a message to another person, the second person to
someone else, and so on. Usually by the time the message gets to the
final person and he/she has to repeat it out loud, the information is
inaccurate and may be jumbled up so that it makes no sense. This is
what occurs when there is miscommunication between neurons, the final
signals are scrambled.
