What is Music Therapy?

The Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) defines music therapy as:

“A discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.” 

Music therapy follows the same clinical process as other therapies, including a referral, assessment, treatment plan, tailored sessions, evaluation, and progress reports. To carry out the treatment plan for your child, a variety of evidence-based methods and techniques will be used to address the goals identified in the assessment, such as:

• Singing
• Playing instruments
• Listening to music
• Moving to music
• Improvisation
• Songwriting
• Lyric analysis

Goals that can be addressed through music therapy include:

• Communication skills
• Fine and gross motor skills
• Self-regulation skills
• Self-expression/emotional skills
• Social skills: turn taking, eye contact, non-verbal interactions
• Cognitive skills
• Sensory stimulation

Populations we work with include, but not limited to:

• Autism
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Language Disorders
• Intellectual Disorders
• Motor Disorders
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• And many more

*Music Therapy can be funded by Autism funding for children over 6 years old. 

*Funding through charities such as Variety Children’s Charity and CKNW Kid’s Fund may be possible.

* We can also help apply for charity funding via Variety Children’s charity or CKNW Kids Fund.  See our funding page for more info.