Music Therapy Services
I am based in Sydney's Inner West (the gateway to the world, perhaps) which places me in a position to provide services throughout Sydney.
Music happens between us, and our environment or surroundings. I believe that Music Therapy intervention is most effective when people are in their own space - whether this is in their house, facility, in a community run space, or where they feel most comfortable. Having said this, I also hire a room in the inner west for those who choose to work in the community. Participants don't need to own any music gear - I can bring anything from an acoustic guitar and some hand percussion to a full performing rock-n-roll band's worth of gear, with everything in between.
Person-Centered and Trauma Informed Care are key tenets of effective Music Therapy practice. Generally, participants engage in Music Therapy Group or Individual sessions but Tele-Health sessions can be arranged too. There are a range of benefits to be gained from Group, Individual and Tele-Health sessions, and all Music Therapy programs are individualised to the participant(s). It is very important to note that no prior musical experience is necessary for involvement in a Music Therapy program - everyone has the capacity for music making.
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Individual
Individual Music Therapy is a fantastic way for participants to focus on specific goals. In these individual sessions, the therapist has complete focus on the participant and this social privacy can aid in fostering the therapeutic relationship, which is where the therapeutic change occurs. Although these are 'individual' sessions, it's important to remember that the therapeutic relationship is a social relationship, so psychosocial goals can still be targeted in individual sessions.
Group
Group Music Therapy sessions are fantastic for participants who have social, psychosocial and communicative goals, among others. The nature of the group allows for the participants to 'audition' skills within the safety of the group before trying them outside the therapy space. As a function of themselves, groups can also help build relationships, decrease isolation and increase community participation.
Tele-health
The last few years have shown to many of us the power of Zoom and other web-based communication platforms. Tele-health sessions can be offered on both a one-off or on-going basis, depending on the needs of the participant.