THERAPY SERVICES

 Music therapists are employed in a variety of clinical areas and settings including health care facilities, hospitals, hospices, day treatment facilities, schools, community programs, correctional centres, substance abuse and addiction centres, long term care facilities, with disability or early childhood, and private practice.  

Therapy is used in the form of small or large group settings or one-on-one individual sessions with clients of any age, ability and musical background and some examples include:

Acquired Brain Injury, Autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Speech and Language Impairments, Visual Impairments, Hearing Impairments, Geriatric Care, Palliative Care, Critical Care, Neonatal Care, Obstetrics, Oncology, Pain Control, AIDS, Emotional Traumas, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Substance Abuse, Teens at Risk, and Victims of Abuse.

Lauren has an eclectic approach that is humanistic and creative music centered. There is focus on the use of musical language and nonverbal musical communication as well as the importance of the client-therapist relationship. Interactions and trust between the client(s) and therapist is crucial for genuine and personal music-making to occur. Although structure and form, in the means of short and long term goals for each client, can be in place during sessions, the therapy must revolve around the process for the client, giving them freedom to be the guide.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Some examples of programs include individual sessions, small or large groups of clients in preschool, adolescence, or adulthood with a range of physical or developmental delays including ASD, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and cystic fibrosis. Interventions include music making, singing and instrumental playing, relaxation, song writing, story telling with music, improvisation, movement to music and the use of specific goal related songs. Experience includes working with children and adolescence ranging from 1 to 20 years of age and older adults living with developmental and physical disabilities.

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Some examples of programs include individual sessions, small or large groups of clients of any age with ongoing physical pain, and long term/terminal illness including cancer. Interventions include research-based relaxation techniques through sound and dialogue, singing, and creative self-expression and positive peer interactions. Experience includes working with referred-based clients with ongoing pain in a sound wellness group and at a cancer support centre with survivors, their family members and palliative individuals. Programming included singing groups in the form of a choir, and groups of children living with a parent who is terminally ill. Interventions included musical dialogue, improvisation, story telling, music with art, music with emotional expression and musical enjoyment.

MENTAL WELL-BEING

Some examples of programs include individual sessions, referral based small groups or larger groups of clients of any age with schizophrenia, mood and personality disorders, eating disorders, depression or anxiety to name a few. Interventions include the use of appropriate music and discussion topics for specific mental health populations, song writing, improvisation, singing and instrumental playing. Experience includes working with acquired brain injury and mental health clients privately, within brain injury clinics, and mental health facilities.

LONG TERM CARE

Some examples of programs for seniors include individual sessions, small referral-based or large goal specific groups of clients. Programs are for overall well-being and also for a broad range of skills, needs and physical or developmental special needs including dementia, dementia with behaviour and complex care. Interventions are goal specific and diagnosis specific and include music making, singing, instrument playing, relaxation, discussion and reminiscence. Goals include cognitive stimulation and development, verbal and nonverbal communication, socialization, relaxation and enjoyment as well as pain reduction. Experience includes working within retirement, assisted living and long-term care facilities on home areas with residents that are ambulatory, behavioural or nonabulatory.