Introversion and Extraversion are the terms originally used by Carl Jung (the psychiatrist upon whose theory of psychological type the MBTI is based) to explain how people get their energy. Here’s how the MTBI explains introversion and extraversion from each perspective:

Introversion (I)

I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”
• I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.
• I prefer to know just a few people well.
• I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.
• I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

Extraversion (E)

I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I’m excited when I’m around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I am seen as “outgoing” or as a “people person.”
• I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.
• I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.
• I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time to think it over.
• Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

While I can’t relate to hardly any of the statements describing an “E” person, I agree with each and every “I” statement. Yes, I can behave in an outgoing manner, perform in front of a crowd, and hold conversations with people easily, but doing those things drains my battery, so to speak.

What really fuels me is working in solitude, fleshing out my ideas and using my creativity to bring them to life. I was surprised when so many music therapists could relate to this blog post about my introversion, because I always assume that most of my colleagues are extroverts.

But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me that there are so many introverts in this field. Almost all of us started as musicians as children or young adults, which requires a great deal of creative expression and practice in solitude. One of the things that drew me — and most likely many of my colleagues — to music therapy was the opportunity to use my ideas and creativity in a positive and effective manner, impacting peoples’ lives for the better.

Brainstorming, analyzing, and putting my creativity to work is what energizes me and gives me the fuel I need to go out into the field or clinic. After a full day of working with people, though, I’m more than ready to recharge by spending time alone.

There is a lot of talk about burnout in the field of music therapy, and I know I’ve personally been on the brink several times. Each instance was a result of too much clinical practice, which took from my proverbial cup, and not enough time spent on my own recharging.

This can be a draining career, especially for introverts. After 10 years of trial and error, learning to find a balance between interaction and solitude as a practicing music therapist, I felt called to share my experiences with my fellow introverts.