As music therapy professionals, most of us have encountered situations in our workplaces where staff, administrators, or caregivers make us powerless or less qualified. WRONG! Music therapists are leaders in healthcare and nobody knows our modality better than we do. In the video below, Brittany Tachkov, MT-BC & Kat discuss some ideas and concepts you can use TODAY to advocate for yourself, establish authority on music therapy in your facility, and nurture that culture among your care team. Spoiler alert: Here’s your ONE STEP to establishing yourself as an authority –
– Become a regular presenter in the new employee orientation and set the tone
When it comes to using music as therapy, your education, training, and experience makes you the authority in knowing the evidence behind your goals and treatment plans, your needs as a professional, and the best practices for your clients. Step into that power with confidence! We got your back.
Transcript for Establishing Yourself As An Authority
Kat Fulton, MM, MT-BC: Tell me one, two or three or maybe five different things you’ve done to establish yourself as an authority. Something that maybe we can even start doing today, tomorrow, the next day.
Brittany Tachkov, MT-BC: I speak to new employees. This is where you can actually just educate, because it’s part of their education and orientation. This is the easiest way to educate in a setting that is made for you to educate, is made for you to advocate, is made for you to talk about you and your education, and it’s set up for that.
Kat: So, it’s a new employee orientation. Get yourself into that.
Brittany: Get yourself in there because that is where you can then say all of those points about your education, about your use of music, about your definition, and it fits, and it’s not in anyone’s face because it’s just part of their orientation. So, that has set the tone, so everyone who has started after I have started is right there and knows it. They also are aware that I am the final decision-maker on how often, or if someone’s going to continue to receive music therapy.
Kat: Oh.
Brittany: I am the one who decides. I do that assessment, that final initial assessment, actually giving the referral. Then what people like saying, “Oh, so-and-so is going to come in once a week or every day,” or whatever that is that they know that there’s this consultation piece and to be collaborative. So, when I reach out, when someone’s giving me a referral, or if I identify someone that could benefit, no one’s honestly here from those people who are in contact with them, family, care team, whoever that is. I genuinely want to hear their opinion. So, we’re working together, and I’m making the final decision.
So, it’s this collaborative relationship where I might be the authority on music therapy, but I’m not taking the authority on that person, client, all of their care. I’m just taking the authority on music therapy, because if I didn’t have all those other people taking care of all of the other developmental goals, the other mental health needs, the other symptom management needs or emotional needs, I couldn’t do the work I’m doing.
Your Next Step In Funding Programs
If you’re wanting to grow your program but aren’t sure where to start, then you’re ready for our course on Funding and Program Development with Brittany Tachkov, MT-BC!
Brittany Tachkov, MT-BC draws on her wealth of personal experience and success and shows you how to focus in on your goals. By navigating corporate collaboration, fostering buy-in, tracking data, and building a solid fundraising foundation, you will leave the course with the tools and confidence you need to take control of your career, no matter your setting or population.
After I retired in 2016 I decided to follow the recommendations of the international best selling book on retirement and decided to volunteer to do music therapy for two local dementia programs because singing music and playing guitar was nothing I ihad done when I was working but I did think it was something I would enjoy while I retired.