Thank you for visiting Musicure.
MUSICURE offers music psychotherapy based on the belief that “Your answer always lies within.” A trained therapist will assist you in exploring your inner world and discovering your own answers.
Methods:
- The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM).
- Music Counseling
- Music Therapy
- Circles of the Self Assessment
1. The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)
The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) is a form of music psychotherapy developed by Helen Bonny, PhD, in the 1970s at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, where a group of researchers studied human consciousness. GIM involves listening to a carefully selected music program while in a relaxed, dream-like state, to explore the psyche and discover personal insights.
It requires approximately five years of specialized training to become a certified GIM practitioner. Today, GIM is practiced worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, the UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Korea, China, and Japan. For more details about the method, please visit the Association for Music and Imagery.
Process
- Pre-session: You and the therapist will talk about your life and current concerns, and decide on an intention for the music experience. This intention might be a personal question, an area where you’d like new insight or perspective, or something you wish to explore within yourself.
- Induction: The therapist will guide you through a brief relaxation exercise to help release physical tension and focus your mind.
- Music-Imagery Experience: As you listen to the music, you will verbally share your spontaneous imagery with the therapist. Your imagery may be visual, kinesthetic, intuitive, or emotional. The therapist may ask gentle questions, deepen your experience, or help you release what is ready to be let go, depending on what arises in the moment.
- Post-session Processing: After the music-Imagery experience, you and the therapist will reflect on the imagery and its meaning. This may include drawing connections to your life and integrating new insights.
Who may benefit from GIM?
GIM may be helpful for people experiencing:
anxiety; mild depression; stress; relationship issues; trauma and abuse histories; addiction recovery; grief and loss; life transitions; gender identity and expression concerns; spiritual questions; physical, psychological, or spiritual pain; or medical conditions that are difficult to treat through conventional medicine alone.
2. Music Counseling
If you find it difficult to put your thoughts and feelings into words, music counseling may be a helpful option. Music counseling is a form of expressive therapy. Sessions are flexible and may include listening to your personal music collection or the therapist's music selection, playing simple instruments, or using your voice to express what words cannot. Mandala drawing may also be incorporated. After these expressions, you and the therapist will process what has emerged and identify the next steps.
3. Music Therapy
Music therapy is a evidence-based practice that uses music to promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual well-being. A qualified music therapist designs and facilitates music experiences tailored to each person’s needs.
At MUSICURE, we value each person’s potential, regardless of disability, and explore together how you wish to be and how you wish to live. We support you in developing the strength and confidence to follow that path.
Examples:
- Children – In music therapy, the focus is not on teaching performance skills, but on using music as a free form of expression. Through instruments or voice, children can express joy, anger, sadness, or excitement. Such free expression nurtures emotional awareness and self-expression for the future.
- Autism Spectrum – Improvisation offers a way to express feelings that are hard to put into words. With music as motivation, children can develop self-regulation skills, prevent secondary difficulties, and build confidence and independence.
- Other populations – Musicure also offers music therapy for adults, older adults, in mental health care, and in hospice or end-of-life care.
Music therapy at MUSICURE is individualized. Initial consultations are free by email or in person.
4. Circles of the Self Assessment
The Circles of the Self Assessment is a creative and intuitive psychological tool that combines the ancient symbolism of circles with Jungian psychology and the concept of the life cycle.
In this projective assessment, you will select shape cards and match them with color cards, then create a mandala drawing. Based on your selections and artwork, the therapist will work with you to explore your current psychological state and what is emerging in your life.
Therapist:
Nami Yoshihara, PhD
- Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
- Fellow, Association for Music and Imagery (FAMI)
- Trainer, Association for Music and Imagery
- Certified Public Psychologist (Japan)
- Article Editor, Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy
Nami is a US-trained, board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), a certified GIM therapist (FAMI) accredited by the Association for Music and Imagery, and a Certified Public Psychologist (national licensure) in Japan. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Therapy from Radford University, Virginia, and her PhD in Music Therapy from Temple University, Philadelphia.
Nami began playing piano at age four and was active in school bands during high school and college. Her musical influences include classical, rock, hardcore, jazz, new age, and world music.
She strives to live fully and embrace all aspects of life. In addition to music, she enjoys the small pleasures of everyday life, spending time in nature, hiking in the mountains, and camping. She has a genuine interest in people and looks forward to working with you.
Fees:
GIM (The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music)
- 1 session (90 minutes): 15,000 JPY
- GIM trainees: 1 session (90 minutes): 12,000 JPY
Music Counseling
- 1 session (50 minutes): 8,000 JPY
Circles of the Self Assessment
- 1 session (40 minutes + follow-up): 5,000 JPY
Sliding Scale:
Discounted fees are available for full-time undergraduate students or clients experiencing financial difficulty. Please feel free to ask.lt.
Location
For the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, Music Counseling, and Circles of the Self Assessment:
Tokyo International Psychotherapy (Sundays and Mondays)
Joy Hills Nanpeidai Rm 401
6-11 Nanpeidai-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0036
GIM sessions are also available in Yokohama (Monday–Friday). The therapy space is about a 5-minute walk from JR Yokohama Station. Please contact us for details.
For Music Therapy:
Totsuka Sumire Kindergarten
1665 Shimokurata-Cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama 244-0815
Nearest Station: JR Totsuka
Contact
Please use the contact form to send questions or appointment requests. The therapist will respond within 24 hours, except on weekends, holidays, or during scheduled breaks.
