597. Assessing and Treating Music Performance Anxiety w/ Dr. Dave Juncos

Click here to read the transcript

Today, I’m sharing a conversation with psychologist and musician Dave Juncos to explore the nuanced world of music performance anxiety (MPA). We examined how MPA presents across cognitive, physiological, and subtle behavioral spectrums, and we dive into the underlying psychological mechanisms that perpetuate it. Dave shared insights from his research on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an effective framework for musicians, highlighting how psychological flexibility allows performers to reconnect with artistic expression rather than engaging in subtle avoidant behaviors. We also discussed the development of the Musicians Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (MAAQ) and explored actionable strategies clinicians and educators can implement to support performing artists.

03:58: Defining music performance anxiety through Diana Kenny’s framework and Barlow’s tripartite model

09:37: Diagnostic considerations and classifying MPA within social anxiety disorder performance sub-types

13:15: Identifying subtle behavioral avoidance patterns and performance rigidity in musicians

19:28: Developing the Musicians Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (MAAQ) for domain-specific assessment

28:25: Research findings on psychological flexibility as a predictor of performance outcomes and competition entry

36:54: Applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions in clinical and coaching settings

42:46: Comparing ACT with traditional approaches like Alexander Technique and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cool Things Mentioned

Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists

Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists