Blues Therapy, written by Anita Schlank, Ph.D. and musician Tab Benoit, is a book about the blues and mental illness and features three sections.
In the first section, “The Psychologist’s Perspective,” Anita Schlank tries to dispel myths about mental illness and mental health treatment, discuss the therapeutic effects of music (particularly the blues and the blues community), and discusses aspects of a musician’s lifestyle that can exacerbate mental health problems. In the second section, “The Musician’s Perspective,” Tab Benoit discusses these same issues from the perspective of a musician.
In the final section, “The Interviews,” 14 amazing blues musicians, Annika Chambers, Ronnie Earl, Mark Earley, Amanda Fish, Eric Gales, Beth Hart, Janiva Magness, Nick Moss, Anders Osborne, Phil Pemberton, Billy Price, Dawn Tyler Watson, “Monster” Mike Welch, and the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, share their compelling personal experiences with mental health problems and/or addictions, including the ways in which the blues has been healing for them. Bluesman Mike Zito also wrote the foreword for the book. These incredibly talented musicians are taking steps to help eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and mental health treatment.
All proceeds from the sale of this book benefit the Blues Foundation’s HART Fund, which pays for medical and mental health as well as substance abuse treatment for blues musicians in financial need.
Purchase the Blues Therapy book on the website. Each book copy is priced at $20 plus $7 for shipping and handling of the first book. Each additional book will be $2 extra for shipping. Please contact them directly for International Order Pricing.
