Looking for those interested in group music therapy workshops
My name is John Hollis, and I am the President of IMAPH. I am a practicing therapist specializing in trauma recovery and have worked extensively with trauma survivors. My clinical work often involves techniques that engage bilateral stimulation—such as walking, pacing, rocking, and bike riding—which, like EMDR, help regulate emotional states through the rhythmic activation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
In addition to my work as a therapist, I have been a practicing musician for over 40 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I transitioned to working from home, where I had access to all my musical instruments. This environment naturally led me to begin integrating music into my therapeutic work, giving rise to what I now call music psychotherapy.
I will soon be offering a series of small-group music therapy workshops designed to create a safe and calming space for healing. These sessions will explore the therapeutic use of music, art, and peaceful practices to support the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. This “activation of calm” helps facilitate the flow of Self Energy—what Dr. Richard Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), describes as the qualities of calm, clarity, creativity, courage, confidence, and compassion.
These upcoming IMAPH groups are intended to support healing and the restoration of Self Energy. While I am a licensed therapist, these sessions are not a replacement for individual psychotherapy. Rather, they serve as a complement—an adjunct offering tools, insights, and creative techniques for emotional regulation between formal therapy sessions.
Themes of the workshops will include:
Psychoeducational and creative methods for expressing, containing, and coping with our emotions
Somatic practices for reducing anxiety
Rapid-response techniques for anger, panic, and fear management (e.g., “energy dumps,” distinguishing the “noticing mind” from the “judging mind,” and managing limbic system fight/flight triggers)
Live music therapy and self-regulation training
Effortless meditation techniques for sleep and trigger relief
Exploration of EMDR principles and bilateral auditory stimulation (e.g., bilateral beats) to facilitate parasympathetic relief and emotional balance
We will also delve into the subconscious and superconscious mind—understanding their “rules” and learning how to work with these powerful systems to support healing and transformation. Topics will include identifying and naming core beliefs, understanding their impact on perception, and cultivating adaptive beliefs to support emotional regulation.
Above all, I am deeply grateful for the joy of service. I love being a therapist because it allows me to do good, to be kind, and to witness the relief that comes when emotional pain is eased. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the return of Self Energy in a client—the light in their eyes when calm is restored.
Music has been a powerful force in my own healing. The act of playing guitar and immersing myself in sound has helped regulate my own mood and emotions. Music—especially when played with awareness—naturally engages bilateral stimulation, making it a profound therapeutic tool.
I look forward to sharing this journey of healing, growth, and creative self-expression with you.
Warm regards,
John Hollis
President, IMAPH
