Electronic drum sets and iMacs and video cameras, oh my!

When we think of health care, we don’t typically think of these items. But one of the true joys of mental health care is the ability to incorporate these technologies directly into our treatment. Creative self-expression is a capstone achievement of psychological well-being. What better way to work towards that goal than to have all the necessary tools right there in the office?

Here’s a list of multimedia tools and how we will use each of them with patients and clients in our innovative behavioral health clinics at Treffert Studios:

Electronic drum sets and other musical instruments:

1. Complete an exceptional skills evaluation to identify and cultivate rhythmic and musical strengths.
2. Participate in a jam session to develop listening and turn-taking skills for social reciprocity challenges.
3. Record an album with a group of fellow musicians to hone project completion skills.

Video cameras and green screens and microphones:

1. Make a short film to learn movie industry job skills
2. Record and upload TikTok dance videos to hone performance skills
3. Video self-modeling activities for behavioral therapy

Ultra short throw 4K projectors:

1. Custom room sensory experience (patient can pick a soothing ocean scene with wave sounds, or something else that may help them feel relaxed and at ease during their visit).
2. Projecting a life-size image or video footage of the patient’s living room, bedroom, classroom, or school bus for behavioral simulation. This will recreate the environment where challenging behaviors occur.
3. Realistic graded exposure therapy (e.g., projecting images of spiders for a patient who has arachnophobia)

Piano keyboards that connect to a computer (MIDI Controllers):

1. Producing an original rap beat and lyrics about school stressors for a social anxiety disorder
2. Learning to use hand and finger percussion as part of habit reversal therapy for a tic disorder
3. Creating an educational YouTube music-production vlog to practice public speaking skills

Vibe Boards:

1. Interactive touch-screen therapy activities
2. Collaborative note-writing, so patients can see what’s being written about them and actively participate in their own mental health care
3. Other opportunities for collaboration

Macs and iPads:

1. Learn marketable graphic design, animation, app development, and programming skills
2. Become familiar with industry-standard creative equipment
3. Build experience with video and audio editing and production

These amazing tools allow us to transform the process of learning about the patient and family, and of identifying and leveraging the imaginations of our patients, clients, and students to improve their mental health and find maximal success in life.