There’s something so amazing about singing and songwriting. There’s something so amazing that happens when we connect to those parts of us that have access to music and creativity. And when we allow ourselves to feel and express those parts, we can connect with ourselves and each other in a way that surpasses language, social standing, intellectual ability, economic class, etc. – all those aspects that otherwise can serve to divide us and make us feel smaller than who and what we really are.
I recently attended a conference about trauma, dissociation and psychosis. At this conference, those of us in attendance got to learn new research discoveries and methodologies in regards to treating trauma related personality disorders, such as Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback and DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting).
- Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) Neurofeedback is a specialized brain training therapy that targets the slowest brainwaves (below 0.1 Hz) to improve emotional regulation, sleep, and stress resilience. By providing real-time audio and visual feedback, it helps the brain stabilize naturally without conscious effort.
- Unlike top-down approaches (like traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBR focuses on the body’s initial autonomic response to overwhelming events: It accesses the deepest layers of the brain where raw survival, fear, and shock responses originate. Instead of requiring you to analytically narrate the trauma, it tracks the somatic (bodily) sequence of the event: tension, shock, emotion, and calm.
Both of these modalities are interesting to me, as they build on techniques that have greatly assisted me on my journey of recovery from the traumatic brain injury I sustained as an eighteen year old. They also reflect some of the tools that I use as a Journey therapist – tuning into the slower brainwaves, accessing both the subconscious and conscious mind in a slower, gentler, more body focused way, deeply attuning to the essence of the emotions and sensations that surface before attempting to process memory or connect dots on an intellectual level.
I was surprised, though, that there was no mention of the power of music, singing or creative expression as therapeutic methods for processing trauma and helping in the recovery process where dissociative and psychotic states are part of the puzzle. Simply because music, singing and creative expression have the ability to affect these previously mentioned frequencies in a deeply organic and interactive way.
When we embody music in a way that is fun, soothing, playful and/ or deeply expressive, we activate multiple parts of the brain simultaneously. This kind of brain activation elevates our ability to feel, sense, connect and remember.
I have found it to be tremendously powerful to tune into how I feel when an emotion or issue is triggered. And when I allow myself to stay with that emotion long enough for that part of me to feel seen and heard and validated by me, I have found it incredibly powerful to attempt to express how that feels in words and/ or music. And when I do, when I discover the notes that represent the emotions and/ or are able to put words to them in some fashion or another – something happens to the frequency of how I feel – as if the recognition/ the validation of matching an emotion with words, music or both reverberates through every cell of my body, bringing a message of recognition and unity and harmony, where before there may have been deep loneliness.
If you are interested in learning more about how music, singing and songwriting can help the recovery process, if you want to connect to and expand your own musicality, voice and authentic expression, or if you are interested in the coaching and therapies that I offer, feel free to reach out via www.journeytovocalfreedom.com
Musically Yours,
Caroline
Caroline Waters' Vocal Freedom Blog 