Wellington Music Therapy Services

04/02/2026

It is time for another edition of Let's Learn; a series where we share recent research and resources put together by our team member Hailey! This round, we are talking about and Termination 🎶

What is clinical termination:
Clinical termination in music therapy is defined as an ethically and clinically appropriate process (Younggren & Gottlieb, 2008) that helps the client end the professional relationship and continue to make changes independently (Schneider Corey & Corey, 2015).

Types of termination in clinical music therapy:
- Gradual Termination: Termination process over multiple sessions
- Abrupt Termination: when sessions end with little or no notice
- Single Session Termination: When you only have 1 session with a client
- Immediate Termination: These occurred in medical and mental health settings
- Refusal of treatment: “In these situations, people either refused to participate during sessions or did not attend sessions.”

Types of termination in music therapy cont':
- Transition to Group Termination: a transition from 1:1 services to group services.
- Microtermination: Services were started and stopped as needed over a long-term treatment plan.
- Termination in Limbo: “In these scenarios, a person’s discharge process was initiated but left incomplete.”
- Soft Termination: “In this case, the [client] had reached their goals in one area of need and then showed curiosity about music therapy treatment for another area of need.”
(Abbott, E. A. 2023)

Termination with Autistic children:
- Many children’s therapy ends due to external factors, & the child may not feel ready, & therefore feel abandoned
- Therapist should be able to recognize & identify their own emotions & the effect of others
- Recognition & acknowledgement of the stress of termination should take precedence over therapeutic goals
- Providing predictability & continuity is important
- Work with caregivers & provide suggestions about possible effects of parting & suggestions of how to prepare & inform the child

Termination with Adults with learning disabilities:
- Realistic aims, goals, & outcomes
- Prioritizing the quality of the client therapist relationship & the impact that this will have on the therapeutic ending
- Considering how to manage, & meaningfully communicate the ending process to clients whose cognitive ability is severely impaired
- Using inevitable breaks in ongoing therapy to help clients build the internal experience of not having therapy
- The use of clinical supervision
- Understanding the need to work within the Learning Disability context

Learn more about what we do at wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com

03/26/2026

Canadian Music Therapy Awareness Month: Takeaways 🎶
March 2026 -

Our Message:
We want every province and territory to hear a clear, united message: Music therapy is healthcare, and families deserve fair access.

Takeaways:
As music therapy awareness month in Canada approaches it’s end, we want to remind our community about this campaign and our hope for the future of music therapy. Together, we can make music therapy more accessible, more recognized, and more supported across Canada. We need to continue working collectively to make that happen.

Let's make some noise. Let's get AMPed!

Tag Vijay Thanigasalam , Sylvia Jones , Michael Chong and Mike Schreiner in the comments! 💭

Visit us at wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com to learn more about what we do 💛

03/24/2026

Welcome to another edition of Let's Learn; a series where we share recent research and resources put together by our team member Hailey! This round, we are talking about Music Therapy and Youth Mental health: How music therapists support young folx. 🎶

Things to consider when choosing interventions:
- Age appropriateness: Variance in themes for age of teen, Developmental difference between beginning teen (13) & late teen (17)
- Relevance to issues impacting them
- Interactiveness
- Values-based tools: Helping them discover their values to help them navigate challenges
- Developmentally focused: Focus on developing positive habits instead of fixing problems

Source: McGrath, E. (2025)

Typology of music-based interventions:
- Somatosensory: active experiences that primarily involve bodily, kinesthetic, & sensory elements
- Social-Emotional: primarily interpersonal experiences & interactive; often involve self & social awareness, & emotional expression in relational contexts
- Cognitive-Reflective: experiences primarily involving higher order thinking, reflecting, & analyzing surrounding meaning making

Source: Rodwin AH, Shimizu R, Travis R Jr, James KJ, Banya M, Munson MR. A (2022)

Examples of interventions used:
Activities in music therapy in youth mental health contexts can include, but are not limited to, music listening, relaxation, tempo modification, song composition, group music with body expression, musical expression, free or structured improvisation, singing, songwriting, playlist creation, music making, creation of music and sounds through voice, musical instruments, or movement freely, making personalized CDs, and reflection and discussion on impacts and emotions evoked through musical analysis.

Source: Freitas C, Fernández-Company JF, Pita MF, García-Rodríguez M. (2022)

Learn more about what we do by visiting our website at wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com

03/22/2026

03/16/2026

Canadian Music Therapy Awareness Month: Why we need to Get AMPed For Music Therapy 🎶
March 2026 - About the AMP list and why it matters

About Music Therapy:
Music therapy is an evidence-based, credentialed profession that supports Canadians of all ages with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Certified Music Therapists (MTAs)
complete specialized training and meet national standards set by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT). Learn more at wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com and musictherapy.ca 💕

MT and AMP:
Right now, Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) are not listed as Authorized Medical Practitioners (AMP) in most provinces. This means many clients who rely on music therapy cannot receive the same tax relief they get for other recognized services like physiotherapy, psychology, or occupational therapy.

Why AMP Recognition Matters:
Adding MTAs to the AMP list means...
- Improved access to therapy for families and individuals
- Reduced financial burden for those with medical and mental health needs
- Equal recognition alongside other health professionals
- Support for healthcare equity, innovation, and patient-centred care

How to Help:
- Follow & share the campaign using
- Tag your Health Minister (and/or local mpp) and ask them to recognize Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) and support their inclusion on the AMP list
- Send a letter or email to your provincial Health Minister, and/or your local mpp
- Amplify voices - share your experience with music therapy and why it matters to you, your family, or your community

Email us for a template you can use to write to your Provincial Health Minister (and/or local mpp) at wellingtonmusictherapyservices@gmail.com

Tag Vijay Thanigasalam , Sylvia Jones , and Mike Schreiner in the comments!

03/12/2026

Sing it Girls!™ returns to WMTS this Spring! 🎶🌷

Sing it Girls!™ is a fun and interactive group vocal program offered to all girls focusing on the experiences of girls. We know a lot of kiddos love to sing, so we’ve integrated some great calming strategies with a fun program for children ages 6 to 12. They are learning to nurture their love of music while taking care of themselves. Each session the participants will learn ways to use breathing to help with stressful situations, explore new songs and sing as a group, enjoy fun activities related to composing songs, and share thoughts about their worries.

Facilitated by Mary Meads, RP, MTA
6 weeks
$180.00+HST / participant
Mondays
May 4 - June 15, 2026

Ages 6-8
6:00-7:00PM
Ages 9-12
7:00-8:00PM

To learn more, or to register, please send an email to wellingtonmusictherapyservices@gmail.com or call us at 519-820-9181.

Fb event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1453496906439286

03/10/2026

It is Canadian Music Therapy Awareness Month and we are ready to 🎶

What is Music Therapy?
“Music therapy is 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.”
Canadian Association of Music Therapists, September 2020 (www.musictherapy.ca)

What makes this year special?
Music therapists across Canada are coming together to call on provincial governments to formally recognize Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) as health professionals and request that they be added to the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) Authorized Medical Practitioners (AMP) list in each province.

Make Noise for Music Therapy - A National Advocacy Campaign

How would this help clients?
The CRA’s AMP list determines which health professionals are eligible for the Medical Expense Tax Credit. Inclusion is province-specific.

This recognition would allow clients and families to claim music therapy services as a medical expense on their taxes, increasing access and equity in healthcare.

Call to Action:
- Educate the public and policymakers about the AMP list and music therapy
- Share real stories from clients, caregivers, and music therapists
- Mobilize collective action through letters, emails, phone calls, and social media
- Tag and call on provincial Health Ministers to formally recognize MTAs and work with CAMT and provincial associations to add music therapists to the CRA’s AMP list

Follow Along!
Throughout this month, we will be posting more about this campaign, including education, resources, and sharing information about how you can take part!

Tag Vijay Thanigasalam , Sylvia Jones , Michael Chong and Mike Schreiner in the comments!

03/09/2026

Music and Me for Adults: Spring 2026 🎶🌸

Led by a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) this group will build community amongst participants aged 18+, and provide opportunities for the development and maintenance of self awareness, confidence, and social empathy. Musical activities such as singing, dancing, playing instruments, and creating songs will be at the centre of this play oriented therapy group.

Registration for the program will require a screening and intake to create cohesive therapy groups with similar musical preferences and social-emotional goals. Group sizes may range from 2 – 6 participants. Session 1 will provide a complete written group music therapy assessment for each participant, to determine individual goals as well as overall group focus, and a written final evaluation will be provided quarterly, and at the conclusion of the program.
*Participants will be asked to attend the program alone, or with a support person if deemed necessary*

Cost per class $30.00 (approx. $120.00 / month). Classes are held weekly, on an ongoing basis. 24 hours notice is required to cancel your space in the group.

Mondays
Facilitated by Stephanie Maxwell, MTA
11:00-11:30AM

Wednesdays
Hailey Davis, MTA
11:00-11:30AM

Register by emailing us at wellingtonmusictherapyservices@gmail.com

Fb event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1253691089511962

03/03/2026

Our SIGNATURE Early Years Music class designed by WMTS Director & Certified Music Therapist, Mary, returns this Spring!

Led by Certified Music Therapist Chelsea-Anne Woolridge, watch your little ones grow and development in this class for babies and toddlers. Classes and based on music therapy principles, and focus on bonding, movement, cognition, and musical development.

Classes are for children aged 3mo - 4 years with one caregiver.
Space is limited.
Saturdays
10:00-10:45am
April 11 - June 27, 2026 * no class May 23
$220.00+HST per family

*please note we are happy to offer a one rate per family (multiple children allowed!)

NEW PROMOTION! Refer a new family to TiTiTots - when they register you will receive $20.00 off your registration fee!

Please send an email to wellingtonmusictherapyservices@gmail.com to register.

Learn more at wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1466120508425902

03/01/2026

Disability Day of Mourning: March 1st 2026 - Remembering the victims of filicide 🕯

What is the Day of Mourning?
Every year on March 1st, the disability community comes together to remember the victims of filicide – people with disabilities killed by their family members. Vigils are held on the Day of Mourning in cities around the world.

What is filicide?
“Filicide” is the legal term for a parent murdering their child. In the disability community, “filicide” is also used when talking about a relative or household member killing a child or adult relative with a disability, by action or inaction. Legally, these cases are categorized as murder, manslaughter, or simply homicide.

When we say “filicide,” we are talking about a pattern of violence that starts when a parent or caregiver murders their child or adult relative with a disability and continues in how these murders are reported, discussed, justified, excused, and replicated.

All sourced from https://disability-memorial.org/
Learn more on their website.

02/27/2026

Music Therapy & Black History: Feb. 2026 🎶

Black History is Music History:
Black music therapists have made significant contributions to the field of music therapy, blending clinical expertise with a rich cultural heritage that has shaped both the practice and the therapeutic outcomes.

Cultural Competency & Inclusivity:
Black history and cultural values emphasize community, spirituality, and resilience. These are qualities that are vital in music therapy.

Healing Traditions:
Many Black communities have long utilized music, rhythm, and song in healing traditions. These traditions emphasize the power of music to connect individuals to their heritage, express emotion, and provide emotional release.

Rhythm and Expression:
The rhythm and movement central to Black musical traditions have influenced how music therapists approach rhythmic interventions, such as drumming circles or guided improvisation.

Sourced from: dynamiclynks.com

Honouring History:
Music Therapists have a duty to understand and respect the history of where their professional interventions have roots in, as well as credit those who have been using music in healing practices for centuries.

Resources:
All year round, we must listen to Black Music Therapists, and honour their continuing contributions to our field.

blackwomensmusictherapy.net

blackmtnetwork.org