Therapy Jam Sessions

“First Burn” vs. the final version of “Burn” in Hamilton: A Lesson on Reactivity vs. Resilience

By Spencer Northey / March 7, 2023

This post is how Lin Manuel Miranda’s final version of the song, “Burn,” in his musical Hamilton, is an example of choosing more mindful empowering thoughts and actions over your “first draft” reactivity, even when you are heartbroken. As fiery as the “First Burn” draft is, the final version is the most powerful.  The final…

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“Good Morning Gorgeous” Reminds Us to Affirm Ourselves

By Spencer Northey / January 31, 2023

“Good Morning Gorgeous” is Mary J Blige’s latest Grammy nominated earworm that reminds us of how affirmations can change your life. In the interlude before the song, we overhear Blige talking about how she conceptualized the song from her own experience of waking up and saying, “Good Morning, Gorgeous.” She describes this ritual as a…

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Kendrick Lamar’s Therapy: “Count Me In,” or “Count Me Out?”

By Spencer Northey / January 28, 2023

Kendrick Lamar’s most confessional and controversial album, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, had me hooked within the first few verses of the first track, “United in Grief:” “I went out and got me a therapist.” With that line, and many references to therapy sprinkled throughout the songs and interludes, the whole album makes sense…

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It’s Always Time for Lizzo

By Spencer Northey / January 13, 2023

“It’s Bad Bitch O’Clock, yeah, it’s thick-thirty…” may have been the most mindful declaration of 2022. It is a statement of intention in the here and now. It is a statement of power. It tells you what time it is. So often mindfulness practice leans towards serenity and calm. But Lizzo’s smash hit, About Damn…

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Emotional Flooding and How to Identify “Monster” Thoughts

By Spencer Northey / October 22, 2022

I was originally inspired to create this blog when I noticed how much certain songs connect and overlap with the powerful feelings and experiences discussed in therapy.  This song was one of them. In Beth Crowley’s, Monster, I hear a familiar reactivity. I hear the experience of people who don’t mean to lose it, but…

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La Vida Es Un Carnival

By Spencer Northey / October 13, 2022

  Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! As part of the celebration, I am reflecting on Celia Cruz’s salsa classic, La Vida es Un Carnival.  This song could be an anthem for anyone pushing through challenges over the past years. It’s a simple rhythmic 4/4 beat that motivates: “Just. Keep. Go. -Ing!” With each downbeat: on one…

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“Bring Me to Life” Without the Yelling Man

By Spencer Northey / July 14, 2022

“Bring Me to Life” is one of my favorite karaoke songs. I don’t think I am alone in this. It is so very emotive and dramatic to perform the 2003 rendition. There are these operatic female vocals and then the male voice just gets to yell some extra stuff. The story behind this song also…

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Cardi B’s Choice Words for When You’re Betrayed

By Spencer Northey / June 24, 2022

This song expresses the flooded angry thoughts of a person betrayed by someone (or someones) they believed they could trust. As aggressive as some of the lyrics are, anyone who has experienced this level of betrayal can likely relate with these words. If you’ve ever been through something like this, similar thoughts and imagery may…

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“It’s Gonna Be [May]” and Mental Health Awareness Month

By Spencer Northey / April 28, 2022

Summary: In this post I recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, and I reflect on how it is important to open your mind to BOTH/AND lines of thinking. I reminisce about my connection to the song, “It’s Gonna Be Me,” and the many memes poking fun at the mispronunciation in the chorus. I connect…

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Coldplay and the S.L.O.W.E.X.I.T Steps for Setting Boundaries and Letting Go

By Spencer Northey / April 5, 2022

Summary: This post shares eight things you can do to practice setting boundaries and letting go in difficult relationships.  I recently took a leap and started relationship therapy group with some courageous and insightful participants. It was so meaningful to do this work with them. This post is dedicated to those people as we wrap…

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