How did your journey as an Accredited Music Therapist begin?
My journey as an Accredited Music Therapist began at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I discovered music therapy through a careers course in high school and at the time knew nothing about what this career path entailed. As I learned more about this profession I found that it amalgamated two of my joys for helping people and music.
Through the Acadia’s music therapy program I learned a lot about what the world of music therapy entailed and it truly shaped me into the clinician that I am today. Some topics that resonated with me during my training included:
- Evolution of human biology and music
- Clinical, scientific and medical aspects of how music impacts our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls
- Focus on human connection and building therapeutic relationships through the profession of music therapy
- Business model of music therapy within private practice
- Music Therapy advocation and clinical education within our communities
What did you do after your training as an Accredited Music Therapist and why?
After my training at Acadia University and the completion of my internship I launched Find Your Voice Music Therapy in Kingston, Ontario June 2014. I launched my company because I knew there wasn’t an Accredited Music Therapist or music therapy private practice in the area. From growing up in Kingston I knew there was a clinical need within my community for music therapy. There also continued to be a great amount of clinical research and education occurring through our teaching hospitals at Hotel Dieu, Kingston General, Providence Care as well as Queens University. For me, this was the place to be! I was home and I got to introduce my love for music therapy to my community.
What are you passionate about in music therapy?
I am passionate about people’s stories. I truly feel blessed with everyone I work with to be invited into their lives and to learn about what makes them who they are today. It’s a gift to learn about everyone’s unique journeys and stories.
I am also passionate about the interplay of verbal language and musical levels of processing in session with the people I serve. With my training in Narrative Therapy through The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre and University of Toronto, I have gained the knowledge to support individuals through psychotherapy and counselling techniques. I value helping guide people to find self-confidence, resilience, strength, and empowerment by focusing on what is truly their authentic story. And not let the problems that are influencing their lives own their self identify and self worth.
What do you hope to accomplish through your work music therapy?
Through my work in music therapy and counselling, both through Find Your Voice Music Therapy’s locations in Kingston, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia, I hope to continue to connect with people through music therapy & counselling sessions, meetings, consultations, education sessions and workshops. I hope that through the work of the Find Your Voice Music Therapy team that we impact the lives within our circle of care through the music, the therapeutic relationship, and the individual’s growth and development while we work together.