Music therapy

We have 5 Music Therapists across our 3 hospices offering over 100 hours of Music Therapy every week

Music therapy sessions can offer something that goes beyond the moment itself, they can create very precious memories for families 

Ceridwen, our lead music therapist at CHSW explains: “Music plays a huge part in all our lives. There is rarely a big life event that doesn't have music at the very centre of it. Music can express so much of what we are feeling and this is where the concept of music therapy is born.”

• Music Therapy offers a space where children can communicate and express themselves, through words or non-verbal ways like vocalisation, body language and facial expressions.
• The child is at the heart of every session and they are in control of how the session runs. Some children may choose to make up a song about how they are feeling; others will simply sit quietly in the therapeutic space to spend time away from all the medical interventions they have to face on a daily basis.
• The focus is put on what children can do rather than what they are not able to do.  

Children will often leave the sessions with a big smile on their face, having achieved something they never thought they could. 

Every Music Therapy Session is unique

We offer indivdual, family and group sessions to experience something very special together and create wonderful memories. 

How does it work?

• Relationship; our Music Therapists use many different skills and approaches to build a therapeutic relationship with the children and families they work with, through play, songwriting or even just listening to music
• Improvisation; Music Therapists are highly skilled musicians and improvisation is a key method of creating and developing this relationship
• Music technology and games are used to enable  young people to express who they are; explore the sights, sounds, textures and vibrations
• Sensory experiences are created through the use of story bags made to help offer the experience of places like the beach or the jungle

Photos, videos and recordings captured during our Music Therapy sessions make special memories so that the families have something to look back on and enjoy in years to come 

Sam’s mum says of his music therapy sessions:

 We’ve always known that Sam loves music but particularly his determination to physically interact and his co-ordination to touch an instrument, such as the harp, has been a pleasant surprise.
I actually feel very emotional to see such a profound response from him. Our son and many other children we have met seem to be able to respond to music and interact on a level they cannot do through any other medium