Semper Sound: Military Music Therapy Program

Overview: Resounding Joy and the Military

Resounding Joy works directly with returning military service members who are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury, alcohol and drug Addictions, and other psychological and physical ailments related to combat stress and trauma. Current funding for all military programs is provided by the Semper Fi Fund. Resounding Joy is honored to work closely with the military providing Music Therapy services and promoting supportive musical environments amongst active and retired military members. Listed below are military programs.

Balboa Wounded Athlete Program (BWAP)

Based out of the Health and Wellness department at the Navy Medical Center San Diego, the program focuses on music for wellness and day-to-day integration of life situations.

Music Therapy Services Promote:

Supportive Music making
Relaxation
Lyric analysis
Songwriting
Creative arts

Overcoming Adversity and Stress Injury Support, The OASIS Program.

This program involves working with active service members in an intensive 10-week residential inpatient setting at Naval Base Pt. Loma. Service members are rehabilitating from symptoms of PTSD and drug and alcohol addiction.

Members of the OASIS program benefit from Music Therapy methods, practicing active and supportive music making, lyric interpretation, songwriting, therapeutic instrumental musical performance, and other Neurologic Music Therapy techniques. As a result of these practices the group is able to:

Build cohesion
Increase acknowledgement and insight of self and others
Improve appropriate communication skills and focus on strengths and abilities

The main goal of this rehabilitation program is to prepare service members for integration back into active duty or re-integration into their communities.

Camp Pendleton Music Program

The Camp Pendleton Music Program is an 8-week wellness group. The curriculum focuses on music wellness, active music making to various instruments and using music to achieve relaxation, songwriting, lyric analysis and completing a personal music inventory. Different musical techniques are introduced to educate participants in how they can integrate music into their day-to-day life.

Military Children and Music Opportunities

Military personnel on Active Duty enroll in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) when they have a family member with a physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder requiring specialized services. In 2010, Resounding Joy provided services at two events for approximately 200 children and their families through the EFMP and Lincoln Military Housing.

Resounding Joy can provide the following types of programs:

Leading interactive music experiences for family events
Facilitating music based workshops to educate families
Implement Music Therapy services, Sound Minds as part of the Military’s parent support program
Incorporating Music Therapy services into adult support groups for spouses of those actively deployed
Incorporating Music Therapy services into adult support groups for parents in the Military who have children with special needs

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP Group)

An 8-week closed group for service members experiencing extreme symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) based out of the out of the C5 department.
The Music Therapy component is a progressive curriculum that focuses on music wellness sessions that are client-preferred. The curriculum is structured to understand ways in which PTSD may manifest including: inability to function, isolation, depression, hyper-vigilance, impatience, anxiety, aggression and emotional detachment.

Programs