Ari Oklan, PhD | Publications

Publications

Treating Inhalant Abuse in Adolescence: A Recorded Music Expressive Arts Intervention

Oklan, A. M., & Henderson, S. J. (2014). Treating inhalant abuse in adolescence: A

recorded music expressive arts intervention. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 24(3), 231–237. http://doi.org/10.1037/pmu0000058

Summary:

Single case study with an adolescent with significant neuropsychological symptoms following three months of chronic inhalant abuse.
Created a Recorded Music Expressive Arts (RMEA) intervention, utilizing songwriting, recording, and music production to create a lasting artifact that can be reflected upon and reexperinced at different times.
Songwriting and music production process was integrated with Narrative Therapy approaches to facilitate coping, adaptation, and symptom reduction by re-storying trauma narratives.
RMEA process: a) favorite song chosen as a creative template for personally meaningful new words and music; b) participant wrote new lyrics and reworked the music with my assistance, using portable recording studio; and c) song was collaboratively recorded, mixed, produced, and encoded onto CD.
Findings supported a) amelioration of symptoms of depression (BDI-IIand SCL-90-R), b) reduction of psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90-R), and c) increased utilization of adaptive coping strategies (Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences).

Reauthoring Narratives with Alternative Education Students Using Recorded Music Expressive Arts

Oklan, A. M. (2017). Reauthoring narratives with alternative education students using recorded music

expressive arts (Dissertation). Retrieved from Proquest Dissertations and Theses database. 10278105.

Summary:

Studied music therapy intervention I created, Recorded Music Expressive Arts (RMEA), with culturally diverse, trauma exposed alternative education high school students with substance abuse issues.
Integrates Narrative Therapy and creative process as means to voice challenges, “tell their story,” and re-author problem-saturated narratives in culturally sanctioned manner.
Found a) enhanced coping (problem focused engagement, cognitive restructuring, and emotional expression); b) decreased substance misuse; c) increased contemplation and action readiness to respond to intervention; d) improved behavior (e.g. internalizing, behavior, learning problems, and suspension rates); and e) higher attendance rates.

My Story About The School Shootings

Oklan, A. M., Kliman, G., Oklan, A. K., Oklan, E., (2013). My Story About The School

Shootings. San Francisco: Children’s Psychological Health Center.

Summary:

Authored Guided Activity Workbook to help youth and families affected by the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
Developed to assist parents, teachers, and mental health professionals in helping youth overcome school shootings and similar acts of mass violence.