What Goes into a Name? Meaning and Inspiration Behind “Intempo”
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“...through music, I could connect with others in ways that transcend language.”
For our first Brain Blast, I’d like to dive deeper into the meaning behind the practice name, Intempo Psychiatry. In many ways, its inspiration originated before I even decided to pursue psychiatry. Music has always been a passion of mine. From a young age, I recognized its ability to bring people together. This ability to connect with others became even more palpable for me when I started playing the saxophone at the age of eight. I realized that, through music, I could connect with others in ways that transcend language. The more I played, the more I realized the bidirectional nature of this connection. I began to pay attention to the impact my music had on the emotions of the audience. As a became a more refined saxophonist, I became more aware of the therapeutic value of this connection, not just for the audience, but also for myself.
“Although music and psychiatry differ significantly, the ability to connect with others that music introduced me to is integral to high-level psychiatry.”
When I decided to take the leap into private practice, one of the more difficult tasks I encountered was coming up with a name that represents my approach to care and the goals I have for all my clients. I place a heavy emphasis on providing a holistic approach, focusing on establishing a deep understanding of the clients I work with and using this to promote healing in profound ways. I had several different ideas for the name, but I kept finding myself drawing on my roots in music. Through music, I was able to tap into the desire I’ve always had to connect with others in deep, meaningful ways. Although music and psychiatry differ significantly, the ability to connect with others that music introduced me to is integral to high-level psychiatry. Because of this, I wanted the name of the practice to pay homage to these roots.
“The goal I have for everyone I work with is to connect with them deeply and understand what makes them uniquely them so we can work together to get them ‘in tempo’ with their lives.”
In music, tempo is critical. Without tempo, you have a cacophony of notes and rhythms that don’t convey much. While this can be appreciated by some, the appeal to the audience is often lost. With tempo, those same notes and rhythms now have a new sense of meaning and purpose. There’s a sense of organization and direction. When you couple that with the emotions from the performer, there’s a story that can be understood and appreciated by the audience. I tend to view our minds in a similar fashion. Everyone has a natural cadence or tempo that they align with. When the tempo is right and our mental health is where it needs to be, it’s much easier to deal with the trials and tribulations of life which makes the overall experience more fruitful and meaningful. However, we can sometimes get off beat. Sometimes, it’s easy to get back on beat, but we sometimes find ourselves struggling to do so. The goal I have for everyone I work with is to connect with them deeply and understand what makes them uniquely them so we can work together to get them “in tempo” with their lives. Everyone marches to a different beat, and I’m confident that Intempo Psychiatry can help folks find that beat. Whether you’re someone who’s going through a difficult time in life, someone who is in an uncomfortable headspace, or someone who is looking to further optimize your mental health, I invite you to connect with Intempo Psychiatry and see if we are the right fit for you!
I look forward to connecting with you all. Until next time!
Dr. McCall
