People in Recovery from Addiction

Through my 15 years’ experience in this field I have found and research reviews indicate that drumming enhances recovery through inducing relaxation and enhancing theta-wave production and brain-wave synchronization. Drumming produces pleasurable experiences, enhanced awareness of preconscious dynamics, release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self. Drumming alleviates selfcenteredness, isolation, and alienation, creating a sense of connectedness with self and others. Drumming provides a secular approach to accessing a higher power and applying spiritual perspectives. Conclusions. Drumming circles have applications as complementary addiction therapy, particularly for repeated relapse and when other counseling modalities have failed.

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I work with people enrolled on a residential program. Each participant has complexed needs, some are still detoxing and are very vulnerable and some are very insular and have very low self-esteem. Some have trauma issues and childhood traumas, some have experienced abuse. I gently earn respect and never demand it and I am always conscious of ensuring my workshops are a very inclusive space. I open my workshop with a talking circle, we pass a talking stick around the circle so that each participant will say their name and one word how they are feeling. This helps me to assess energetically where individuals and the group are at and sets the tone for the direction I need to take during the workshop. It always provides reflective learning for me and the group. We close the circle with the talking stick, participants say how they are feeling after the workshop and it is interesting and insightful the journey they have been on and how their energy and thought process has changed. I feel it of the utmost importance for each participant to be heard and seen and to be treated with respect in a non–judgmental, compassionate and safe environment.