We are kicking off the first Vibrant Therapist Spotlight of 2019 with Maya Benattar, a music therapist and psychotherapist from New York. I’ve followed Maya online for a number of years, but had the opportunity to directly work with her this fall when she piloted the first online version of her Reclaim Your Rhythm workshop. I loved how she approached helping healers slow down and connect with their personal rhythms. Always an important message! Check out my interview with Maya below.
Please introduce yourself to the readers and tell us a little about the work that you do.
I am a music therapist and psychotherapist in private practice in New York City. In addition to my clinical work, I offer online and in-person Reclaim Your Rhythm workshops for helpers and healers.
What led you to choose to pursue training in music therapy rather than a general counseling program?
There are many reasons, but the short answer is — music was incredibly meaningful to me as a kid and teen – I was painfully shy (to the point where I couldn’t ask the kid in front of me to borrow a pencil) but I could sing in front of 200 people no problem. Music allowed me to feel confident and heard.
When it came time to choose a college major, I wanted to do something with music, but didn’t want to study performance and wasn’t so into teaching. My mother is a social worker, so I was feeling drawn to a helping profession – when I heard of music therapy, it felt like the perfect fit! I’ve now been studying and/or working in the field for over 15 years, and I can’t see doing anything else with my life.
Have you encountered challenges in helping clients or colleagues see the value of incorporating music and creativity into the therapeutic process? If so, how have you worked through these challenges?
Over the years, yes. Especially when I worked in geriatrics or with kids with special needs, I was often called “the music lady” and told to “sing to cheer them up”. I learned how to advocate and how to stand my ground calmly as a clinician.
In private practice the challenges have lessened. I think the psychotherapy field has been expanding to include body-based, experiential, holistic approaches to healing. I also recognize that my practice and my work is not for everyone and that’s okay.
How did you decide to start offering Reclaim Your Rhythm workshops for other helpers and healers?
I had tried offering self-care workshops sporadically over the years in my practice, but didn’t have much success. The Reclaim Your Rhythm concept came out of a combination of my own personal therapy & healing work and leading many professional development and wellness workshops on similar themes. I also got to a place of not being able to hustle in the same way myself anymore, and learning to accept that (essentially reclaiming my own rhythm!) It all kind of came together at the right time.
Did you encounter any unique challenges as you added workshops to your practice and how did you work through those challenges?
I’m not sure my challenges are necessarily unique, but have included figuring out how to market without it feeling like a chore, balancing workshops with my clinical work, and logistical/technical stuff. The actual workshops have been so much fun!
How do you personally manage overwhelm when working on multiple projects?
Deep breaths, yoga breaks, tea. I make sure to log out of my email and Facebook, and put my phone across the room. I’ll sometimes use the Pomodorro technique – staying on track helps reduce my overwhelm. Simple instrumental music helps me stay grounded (I find lyrics often too distracting, though I’ll use some of my favorite songs for dance breaks!)
Lots of positive self-talk and gentle guiding myself back when I drift. I’ve also been more intentional lately (though it is still a work in progress!) about only saying yes to projects – including speaking, consulting, blogging/podcast opportunities – that feel super exciting.
If I feel I “should” say yes, then I try to honor that and respectfully pass on whatever it is. I’m learning (and re-learning) that I’m not as good of a multi-tasker as I think I am, and that’s okay!
How do you approach your work and self care in order to avoid becoming burnt out or depleted?
I only work with clients that I am super excited about (lately that’s women with anxiety, perfectionism and intergenerational/developmental trauma). I’ve been trying to only say yes to professional opportunities that feel like a definite yes. This has helped so much, as I do have the tendency to overcommit myself.
I disconnect from email at night and on the weekends. I find this really helps me turn off my work brain. I make time for yoga classes every week, 10 minutes of yoga every morning, lots of reading, and frequent nature walks.
I’ve also been reframing what it means to work hard. I come from a family that values hard work and hustling. Learning how to “slowly hustle” has been an ongoing practice for me – and something I keep coming back to as I expand my Reclaim Your Rhythm offerings.
If you could go back in time, what tip or advice would you share with yourself at the beginning of your career?
You are enough. Just show up and be yourself.
More about Maya!
Maya Benattar, MA, MT-BC, LCAT is a music therapist and psychotherapist in private practice in Midtown Manhattan (NYC). She specializes in helping women who are struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, or developmental/intergenerational trauma learn to be gentler with themselves, slow down meaningfully, and connect with their strong, confident voices.
In addition to her clinical work, Maya offers supervision/consultation for other therapists, provides professional development and wellness workshops, and offers online and in-person Reclaim Your Rhythm workshops for helpers and healers. Maya received her master’s from New York University, and has completed postgraduate training in vocal psychotherapy and creative arts therapies in trauma treatment. She has over a decade of diverse clinical experience in medical, educational, community, and private practice settings.
You can find Maya at her website: www.mayabenattar.com
Maya is offering a full day Reclaim Your Rhythm retreat in October 2019. Check out all the details here.
Thank you so much for participating in The Vibrant Therapist Spotlight, Maya!
Who should we feature next?
I’d love to hear from the Vibrant Therapist Community about who you may like to see in future spotlight posts. Feel free to comment below or send me an email at sarah@sarahsarahleitschuhcounseling.com.
Take Care,
Sarah