Episode #21: FREE INTERVENTION - Emotional Identification and Expression

How do you feel when someone gives you free music therapy intervention resources? I always feel excited and happy and inspired! All the big, wonderful feelings. Well that’s exactly what this episode is about. I’m going to be talking through a free intervention targeting Emotional Identification and Expression. I’m giving you the powerpoint visuals and the music and teaching you how it works- all of which has been written and developed by me, Ellisa Morris, MT-BC. 


Resources:

Link to Song Visual: "Big Feelings" Song by Ellisa Morris, MT-BC

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEdb1gS6dY/km3y6anfcRam2B5pSJPsJw/view?utm_content=DAEdb1gS6dY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton&mode=preview

MP3 for Song Learning: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UxdY7fQyTnjHpjQJp25dQViNzNnYsAeM/view?usp=sharing

Link to PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NC7-_MJtdxEtBwiECHC8Ge7WJUyuPWGj/view?usp=sharing

Procedure:

  1. For each "verse" there is a face for each emotion "Sometimes I'm ______" (TEACHING)

  2. Then show all the emotions for the first chorus "We have lots of feelings"

  3. Then you repeat how each emotion feels and how it presents- "If I'm______ I might _________" (TEACHING)

  4. Repeating part one of the song ("Sometimes I'm..."), use a musical cue for the client to point to the cued emotion when given 2 options- (TESTING/IDENTIFICATION)

  5. Repeat for the second group of feelings. Feel free to add your own or pair down the information as appropriate! 

***Note that for each emotion, I mimic the sound of the feeling with my instrument to further teach the contrast between emotions.***

Adaptations: 

  1. For appropriate clients you may sing/ask: If I’m smiling, I might feel…” or show the picture and sing “If I’m ____, I might smile!” for lyric fill in. Lastly, for any clients using an AAC device you could have them name the emotion word or match the image. 

  2. You can also cue them to simply imitate the emotion, for expression and nonverbal clients. 

  3. And of course, for pre-verbal or nonverbal clients I would encourage you to use sign language and perhaps this is simply vocabulary/language teaching song.   

  4. For simple emotion identification when singing about each emotion you can sing the cue: "Do you feel_____?"  for the client so simply answer "yes" or "no". 

MusicKristin Vetetofree, interventions, intervention, music, therapy, emotions, emotional health, emotional identification, emotional expression, resourceComment