State of the Heart Music Therapy Intern Introduces New “Wellness” Approach

Becky Welch is shown at left leading Hospice employees in HealthRhythms

State of the Heart Hospice Music Therapy intern, Becky Welch, introduced a wellness and empowerment program recently to her co-workers at State of the Heart’s Greenville office. Called HealthRhythms, the concept was created in 2001 and is aimed to ease stress and encourage wellness. The process uses drums and percussion instruments.

“”HealthRhythms drum circles are conducted for clinical, educational, and workplace sessions,” Welch explained, “and can be used for goals of teambuilding, stress relief and expression.” Welch said she recently used HealthRhythms in a grief support group conducted by State of the Heart.”

State of the Heart cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. The nonprofit agency provides free bereavement support and also has two board certified music therapists who provide free music therapy to patients. Music therapy is an important part of hospice care and has many benefits to both patient and family.

Eleven staff gathered with HealthRhythms leader Welch for an hour of free expression using mostly drums, and a few other musical percussion instruments.

“HealthRhythms is particularly good in hospice settings,” she told the group, adding that hospice workers can be subject to burnout and stress. Welch completed a training session last February with a leader in the field of HealthRhythms and speaks enthusiastically of the benefits. In order to become a board certified music therapist, she must go through an internship program such as the one offered by State of the Heart.

Those employees participating said afterward that they found the hour of using the drums and other instruments produced a “relaxed” feeling and one of “well being.” Welch said that these feelings are particularly good for hospice grief support sessions as they encourage freedom of expression, allowing those grieving to better and more freely express themselves.

State of the Heart, with offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, has cared for patients for 33 years. For more information about all of the services provided by the agency, visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.