Harp Therapy
I am both a physician, committed to health and well-being, and a 1998 graduate of the International Harp Therapy Program (IHTP) as a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner.
The IHTP is a year-long study of the therapeutic use of the harp at the bedside — created by master harpist Christina Tourin, and presented world-wide — to promote rest and relaxation, and to soothe the mind, body, and spirit.
As a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practioner, I play a small “therapy” harp for the patient, or offer the harp to the patient to touch and hold — to feel the calming vibrations as they create a beautiful sound of their own. This can take place in many settings, including hospitals, hospices, and private homes.
Depending on the needs and requests of the patients, I offer a wide range of repertoire and styles. I also play improvised music, without a specific melody, to create a comforting background.
“Music, Medicine, & the Magic of the Harp”
This is a one-hour talk that I first presented in 1998 in San Diego, at both the Museum of Man, and at the International Harp Therapy Program. I later gave this talk in Richmond, Virginia, as a keynote speaker for the 2001 International Harp Therapy Conference. This presentation combines my commitment to well-being with my passion for the harp.
My talk includes:
- The ancient – and modern — history of music and healing
- Amazing connections between music, physiology and nature
- The particular special “magic” of the harp to promote health and well-being.
As well as the health benefits of music and harp therapy, including:
- Reducing blood pressure and pulse
- Decreasing pain, anxiety, and stress
- Decreasing the time spent by premature infants in intensive care units
- Increasing healthy endorphin and serotonin levels
- Creating a sense of peace, well-being, rest, and relaxation
