SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Vicente Garcia leads a weekly drum circle at the Santa Barbara Mental Wellness Center.
“There are different instruments, there is movement, there are people dancing, there are people singing, there are people picking up a new instrument. So, drumming helps us get out of our comfort zone and experience something new. It brings people together. It helps us work on our memory, on our concentration, on our concentration,” said Vicente Garcia, assistant director of wellness and recovery programs.
As assistant director of wellness and recovery programs, Garcia infuses mental health check-ins with a variety of different drum beats for participants to play along to.
“Each rhythm has its own vibration and its own form of healing. And for some people, certain faster rhythms work better than certain slower rhythms. For other people, slower paces work better than faster paces,” Garcia said.
Participants share all kinds of struggles, from stories of anxiety and depression to experiences of isolation.
“When we were checking in, I had mentioned that I felt a little all over the place, like I was having an off day. Society was everywhere, she was hungry, she was tired and she felt weird. And after the drum circle, I feel like I’m able to beat all those weird heartbeats I had today and channel them into something useful. So I feel relieved,” said Marissa Boyer, Family Advocate at the Mental Wellness Center.
After each drumming session, the group shares how they are feeling, with the 2-hour session ending with the actions they plan to take to focus on their mental well-being.
Many report feeling calmer, happier and better able to concentrate.
“You need inspiration to improve yourself. We simply cannot say that one pill will do the trick. Your soul needs to recover too,” said Mental Wellness Center visitor Violetta Montes.
Participants here also say that drumming helps them connect with their inner animal.
“The animals around us teach us to be in the present moment,” Garcia said.
The drum circle takes place every Wednesday at the Garden Street Mental Wellness Center from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
It’s free to join.
