Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Coming Full Circle

In three hours I will return to The Auburn School to share an end of the year, celebratory drum circle. They gave me the amazing opportunity to share Beatwell Playshops, twice a week, for the first few months of the school year. I'm pumped to finish the year with them just as strong as we started it.

The Calm Before the Beatwell Playshop

These bookend bookings at Auburn seemed fitting as some commitments have ended for the summer and new ones begin. My consultation sessions and drum therapy groups at the Hannah More School have come to an end. These experiences helped me continue to grow as a clinician, educator and leader in therapeutic drumming. I look forward to continuing my work at Hannah More in September!

I'm excited to begin working with Greater Allegany Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice out of Catonsville, MD as a therapist. This will allow me to introduce therapeutic drumming to various populations and will provide for me the experience needed to become an independently licensed psychotherapist.

Facilitating a Family Beatwell Playshop

In May, I shared a few unique Beatwell Playshops. I spent an evening in northwest Baltimore drumming with 25 seniors at the Bristol House. The organizers shared with me their joy of seeing the participants light up with drumming, dancing and laughter.

Beatwell Playshop at the Bristol House in Baltimore

In another first, I brought Beatwell to Goodwill Industries International in Baltimore. They host weekly groups aiding adults in search of steady employment. I was asked to lead a Playshop focused on team-building and engagement. About 20 of us drummed for an hour, creating possibly the most enjoyable music I've experienced in this work yet!

When I began this path of therapeutic and community drumming a few years ago, I could not have envisioned some of the opportunities that would come. My work consistently surprises, challenges and inspires me. I'm looking forward to a summer full of meaningful drumming!