The Wellbeing 5 Project
David Franklin
Therapy & Music
The Mental Wellbeing 5 Interview
5 Simple Questions to help with mental wellbeing with answers from Experts, Thought Leaders, Campaigners & Advocates
David Franklin
David is an experienced & licensed psychotherapist and a lifelong musician.
David has almost 20 years of experience as a therapist. He works with individuals and families, facilitates men’s groups and presents workshops to schools and community organizations. He has written articles for publications, trained future therapists, taught graduate classes in counseling, and guest-lectured at UC Berkeley. Find out more about David’s therapy here.
David is also a highly talented musician. He has spent more than 45 years exploring musical genres and experimenting in sound, evolving as a musician though rock, folk-pop, avant-garde and ultimately to new age and instrumental music. He believes that music is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for healing. “The world is really loud right now, and I’m not trying to compete with the noise: I’m creating music for self-connection and healing in these uncertain times.”
His latest album Passings is a collection of 15 new instrumental songs, written and recorded during the pandemic. It reflects a number of endings – or passings – which have occurred in his life and within our society, such as his children leaving home, the death of both his parents, and changes related to the new-normal of our current world. Find out more about Passings & David’s music here.
The Mental Wellbeing 5 with David Franklin
1. What is your favourite quote, anecdote, proverb or experience that helps with mental wellbeing?
David: I like the saying, “this too, shall pass.” It’s a reminder that the challenges we’re dealing with – no matter how overwhelming – are temporary; our job is to take care of ourselves as we deal with these challenges.
2. What is your top piece of advice for mental wellbeing?
David: Stay present with yourself. Obviously, life isn’t perfect, and we all have difficulties eventually. As a psychotherapist, I see that people who stay present throughout a crisis tend to move through challenges quicker. People who mostly distract themselves are ultimately disconnecting from themselves and that disconnection, over time, tends to make people feel worse, not better.
3. What is the one change in the world that you would like to see? (in your area of wellbeing or in the world in general or both)
David: I wish there was more education and awareness of emotional processes, especially for young people. It’s striking how much time and energy we dedicate to teaching young people how to think: high school is practically mandatory and in school, young people learn how to think about math, science, and language. But there are very few classes that educate young people about feelings. This is a disservice because many of our decisions are based on how we’re feeling, and when we don’t understand our emotional selves well, people can make mistakes when dealing with strong emotions. As people learn how to consciously understand their feelings however, they tend to make better-informed choices in their lives and ultimately, to be happier and healthier.
4. Which resources (books / websites / videos etc) for wellbeing would you recommend?
David: The book I’d highly recommend is a blank book – with a pen: I’d invite people to keep a journal.
Journaling helps mental wellbeing in many ways: it slows us down and helps us focus our thinking, it creates an outlet for how we feel and ultimately, it becomes a record of our lives which can give clarity, insight and perspective, both now and in the future.
5. What’s the one thing that always makes you smile?
David: Being in Nature. There’s a quietness and a wisdom that I often feel in nature: the beings – plants, trees, mammals, birds and other beings – are simply living out their lives too. Spending time in nature, whether in an ancient redwood forest or by an urban creek, helps me connect to the fact that I’m simply just another being on the planet: that perspective really helps me.
…and if I could add one other thing that makes me smile, it’s The Pink Panther theme song, the original version by Henry Mancini. 🙂
Bonus Question! Is there anything else pertinent you would like to add to the conversation?
David: I would simply add that it’s not always easy being a human on planet earth: each of us will encounter unique challenges as we move through our lives. I’d encourage each of us – myself included – to have compassion for ourselves as we travel our personal journeys.
Further Exploration - David Franklin
Therapy: David Franklin
David's therapy website containing information about him, adolescent issues, his other specialities, office policies & confidentiality, additional information and how to get in contact.
Music: David Franklin
David's music website containing information about him, his music (including albums), bio's for the albums "Passings", "Songs of Potential Embrace" & "Playing With Shadows", information about his therapy and how to get in contact.
Album: Passings
David's latest album "Passings" containing pieces varying in tempo and styles, likened to the music of guitarists Will Ackerman and Michael Hedges, and pianists Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnolds. Fretless bass master Michael Manring is featured on 9 songs, and Franklin’s son, Alex Franklin (aka Owl Licks) is featured on two of them.
Social - Follow David's Music below
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More Mental Wellbeing 5 Interviews
With answers from experts, thought leaders, advocates and campaigners to help with mental wellbeing