Music therapist based in Parktown, Johannesburg

In music therapy, the goal is not primarily to create beautiful music (although that often happens!) - and if you choose, you don't have to "make music" at all (you may choose only to listen to it). Instead, you are invited to explore yourself through sound, to express yourself without judgment and to discover inner wisdom and parts of yourself you may not have been aware of before.  As a music therapist I aim to provide a safe, supportive space where there are no "wrong" notes (although there may be intentionally "ugly" ones) - just an opportunity to be seen and heard for who you are. Music therapy is deeply relational: music therapists are trained to musically and otherwise support you, accompany you, and witness you in this process with great sensitivity and care, and to be deeply attuned to the music you bring - even when this is only in your tone of voice or movement. Music therapy is rooted in an understanding of how our development as human beings and our capacity to relate has musical foundations (in the communicative musicality between mother and infant).  

Like other arts therapies, music therapy can help us to step out of our heads and uncover emotions that may be deeply held and difficult to access. In this space, we can process and release these feelings,  and our “puzzle pieces” can begin to fall into place as we are invited to gain a more global perspective of our lives through the medium of the arts. This can allow us to see ourselves with new eyes, and can be an empowering process.

Symbol and meaning play an important role in arts therapies, where we actively express and make sense of our experiences through story, song, movement, and image. Arts therapy is often an embodied process that can reconnect us with our bodies. Illness or trauma can disrupt our sense of self and arts therapies can help to restore it, providing opportunities for experiences of competence, healing, and joy in our bodies. 

Television talent show culture and quantised, perfected recording has given many people the idea that you are only allowed to make music if you are "good" at it - talented or highly skilled. Music therapists reject this notion and work to give permission to people to make their own kind of music. We believe that everyone is creative, and that accessing our creativity can be profoundly healing. Everyone deserves to benefit from the amazing benefits music making (and other creative processes) has to offer! However, you are free to choose how to participate, and you may choose "receptive" processes rather than making music. This involves listening, reflecting on and responding to music (sometimes through other creative arts, or just verbally) rather than making it yourself.

Many people already use music to regulate or access their emotions, and set the mood for the day, but this is not music therapy. We can definitely use music by ourselves in health-promoting ways, but music therapy involves the use of music in the context of a therapeutic relationship with a trained music therapist who is consciously designing and reflecting on the process alongside you. Analogously, we understand that while conversation is helpful and can be healing, there is a difference between having a conversation with someone and going to a psychologist.

Like with any therapy, it sometimes takes some time to find the right fit for you. Some people prefer certain approaches over others, and sometimes a particular therapist is a better fit for us personally than someone else. Some prefer arts therapies over "talk therapy" because it is less threatening. I have worked with a wide range of clients, from infants to elderly people, and from very different contexts, and have usually found that music therapy has been able to benefit them. I work in a "client-centered" way, which means that the music therapy process will be as different per client as the clients who seek it. It is unlikely that someone can't benefit from music therapy, because the process will always be tailored to their needs and preferences. However, for therapy to be beneficial the client needs to be willing and open to the process to some degree, so music therapy may not be beneficial for those who have an aversion to the idea, or are not interested in therapy in general. It is a very flexible approach and will be most beneficial if you are honest about what you need, like, and want from the process.

Where appropriate we may work on developing practical tools such as humming, playlists, movement  to music, vocal exercises, journalling, etc. that you can work on outside of sessions. Working in between sessions on something that is relevant to your therapeutic goals is always helpful, and may not always involve music.

Please let me know if you have sound sensitivities. I will ensure that you know what sounds to expect, and that we work within parameters that are comfortable for you. We may over time be able to increase your window of tolerance, if that is something you'd like to work on.

Yes, occasionally some of my clients also see a psychologist. Sometimes I will request your consent in writing for me to communicate with other health professionals that you are seeing, or teachers in the case of children. I occasionally consult with psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and other health professionals when necessary.

Arts therapy is the banner under which the four therapeutic modalities of drama therapy, music therapy, dance and movement therapy, and art therapy fall. Art therapy is one of the four therapeutic modalities falling under the arts therapies.

Yes, I am able to do online sessions, but I prefer to do in person sessions because it is easier for me to attune to you and support you musically in the moment when I am in the room with you.

The American Music Therapy Association states that "children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimers disease and other ageing related conditions, substance use problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain, including mothers in labour" can benefit from music therapy. There are many peer-reviewed journals dedicated to music therapy that include random-control studies, qualitative studies and systematic reviews and that address specific approaches, client populations, and contexts.

I provide sessions that are 20min, 30min, 45min, 60min, and 90min, depending on your needs.

Sessions cost between R400 (for 20min - which I often recommend for younger children) and R1200 (for 90min - which is generally required for GIM).

GIM (Guided Imagery and Music) is a specialised, psychodynamic, music-centred form of therapy regulated by the AMI (Association of Music and Imagery). It involves listening to carefully developed and researched GIM programs (collections of music) while in a relaxed state and guided by a GIM therapist. Each GIM program has a specific purpose, such as providing support and rest, working through grief, exploring parts of self, and more. To train in GIM requires 3-5 years of further training and is counter-indicated for certain clients (including children). 

Music can have a wide range of positive effects on the brain, including activating multiple brain areas such as the cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, and limbic system. It can trigger the release of dopamine, enhance memory, help brain cells process information more efficiently and accelerate learning. It can reduce pain perception, boost mental alertness, lower blood pressure, and support development of motor skills. Many of these benefits can be accessed without music therapy, but music therapists use music in the context of a therapeutic relationship and with training in how to magnify the benefits of music, relative to specific client needs. The way the brain is affected by music depends on the specific music being listened to and is influenced by a person's listening history and other factors. While listening to music is often beneficial, it can also be harmful in certain cases. Music therapists are trained in being aware of these considerations and protecting especially vulnerable clients.