Karaoke singing has become an intricate part of the groups. The rule is: there are no put-downs—only support. Of course, this can be a difficult rule to follow, because I have heard some of the worst singing on the planet. But karaoke singing is not about the singing; it’s about the effort. Some of the learning-disabled clients were unaware of how horrible they sounded. To them, they were Madonna or Eminem, and they had the time of their lives. I wasn’t going to tell them they sounded like a toad—even though they did.

Life can be hard for someone with a learning disability because they are aware of their limitations and have to try to hide them on a daily basis just to fit in. But when a group of people is cheering them on, as we do with karaoke, they get to go on vacation from themselves and be proud of their efforts.

I left this facility and took my karaoke machine with me to the Mental Health Urgent Care Center. It was a crisis center for people who had no insurance or federal insurance. These people were mostly schizophrenic, but I didn’t care. It was a rare Sunday shift for me, and we rarely saw more than 10 people. So, I set up the machine in the waiting room and tried to entice the clients and our staff to join in, but many of my coworkers balked, saying they had to get drunk to do so. That was an interesting comment. Don’t mental health workers work on their own issues? We sure did in graduate school. The premise was: if we were struggling with an issue and a client came in with that same difficulty, we’d get triggered. I worked hard in graduate school during the four years I attended the University of Santa Monica. All the sessions we conducted on each other proved to be invaluable when I began treating others.

My coworkers on that day refused to sing because they said they had to get drunk. Whatever. I decided to go alone and found a willing participant who came to our facility to renew their antipsychotic medication. Little did I know that this person had real talent and sang like an angel! Even the staff came out to witness her. Not so bad. A person goes into a free clinic, fills out paperwork, meets with a nurse to take their vitals and take a history, meets with me, gets some self-help tools, sings karaoke, and then meets with a psychiatrist for a few minutes before they are given a prescription or some sample medication. Some are even given lunch if they are hungry.

Today, at Basic Steps Mental Health, I have seen over 700 people in the seven years we have been open. Unlike the Urgent Care Center, where I only saw a person once or twice, I have one person I have seen 175 times — basically once a week since we started. This is rare, since mostly I will see a person about eight times. The long-term clients just like to come in for emotional support and simply talk to a neutral person who won’t use their information against them.

I haven’t tried doing karaoke singing with individuals yet. I have played them a song I composed on my guitar, if I am proud of something hot off the shelf, but no — individual therapy is a different beast that I am sure I will write about at some point, if I haven’t already.

Alternative treatments may be more important than what is standard in the industry because it touches more of an emotional part inside. In combination with what is standard, it works out best, but music can break down walls and form wonderful bonds that are needed in treatment.

This article brought up some frustration I have had recently in regards to treatment options, so I will go with what presents itself. Not a salesman, I find it difficult to promote my IOP program to the people who need it the most. There have been more severe types signing up for treatment as of late, and all are opting to go through individual therapy. Knowing the value of the groups and the positive impact they make on serious abuse, addiction, and panic disorders, impacting a life change one hour a week or one hour a month is like putting out a raging fire with a squirt gun. How many hours are there in a week? One hour is not going to do much, but why are these people shortchanging themselves? Is it because suffering is familiar? Maybe it is the time commitment? Our IOP program runs three times a week and three hours per session. Four weeks to change the rest of your life versus the ongoing agony seems like a no-brainer. And yes, I also know that $3,600 is a lot of money, but we take monthly payments as low as $300 a month. Stopping an addictive pattern will equal that cost in a year.

Opting to save time and money versus properly addressing agony, pain, hiding alone in bed all week, or being stuck in an addiction that is killing you — well, you choose. If you have a problem, go after it. Instead of running away, like many tried to do in karaoke singing, face it—and face it with support from a staff that has been there and done that.

Each staff member at Basic Steps has gone through our IOP program and used the tools they are presenting. This is why we all have faith in what we are presenting — because it has worked for us all. This is not the 12 steps of AA; it is a psychological program that heals issues at the root. And yes, heals. Thirty years and counting, and I am still not sick of presenting this Spiritual Psychology approach. Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired? I love treating those who have tried numerous programs in the past because our program is a program, and each day builds upon itself. (Please read our reviews.)

We have a new intern who just went through her first day at the facility and said she has had five placements, and this makes the others look foolish. Our program puts psychology into action; theirs was book information and non-involvement. Ours honors people, gives them a voice, and touches each person where tears are common. Theirs doesn’t interest a soul. She is excited about learning the true craft of psychotherapy at our facility, and after one day there, she was hooked.