Empowering YOU through Music
Opening opportunities for change, inclusivity and greater wellbeing through music
Hi, I’m Jessica
Certified music therapist and professional musician
My love for connecting with and supporting people of all ages and abilities has led me to music therapy. I have provided music therapy to clients across a wide range of populations and ages including within Autism Initiatives Ireland, Bloomfield Health Services, the Central Remedial Clinic, Lois Bridges, Ballymun Music Project and established the music therapy department within the Royal Irish Academy of Music. I have introduced and developed music therapy services as being of integral value towards wellbeing.
My passion extends towards wellbeing and health within corporate workplaces through the delivery of bespoke workshops integrating music therapy practices to enhance wellbeing and team dynamics, tailored to directly match and enhance your teams' needs.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is based on the understanding that everyone can respond, enjoy and communicate through music. Music is non-verbal which means that sometimes music therapists are the first point of call in accessing someone's expression and true selves. Music therapy is an evidence-based, clinical profession allied to medicine. The aim is to support each individual towards greater well being and quality of life through the therapeutic use of music.
In music therapy the therapist and client establish a musical relationship in which they are free to explore, express and communicate within a safe and supportive environment. The therapist uses their instrumental and therapeutic skills to hold a direct and meaningful interaction with the client and is guided by the client to create music which communicates directly with their music and dynamic.
In holding this musical conversation this can tell us so much about how someone relates to others around them and allows their inner selves to shine through.
Music therapy can address a variety of needs that can also be addressed through psychotherapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. The goals are determined through a careful assessment process and developed in conjunction with the client themselves, parents, carers and observations of sessions.
Who is Music Therapy for?
Music can essentially be a powerful force towards health and wellbeing for everyone. I work with people experiencing a variety of health challenges including:
Children and adults experiencing mental health challenges & disorders
Engaging in music therapy has been reported to reduce mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression in a number of ways. Through music therapy we are supported and guided in creating the music of our emotions and experiences, thus expressing and even creating order and structure around our thoughts and feelings.
Those seeking a therapeutic frame -work to explore their musicianship
For some, the experience of music lessons has held challenges or has not spoken to their specific way of connecting. For those wishing to begin the process of communicating through their voice or instrument, I offer a supportive space where we aim to draw out your musical voice.
Children and adults experiencing developmental & intellectual disabilities
Through music therapy, you can work towards developmental and social goals such as increasing use of expressive language, increasing specific motor functions, sharing, increasing joint attention, increasing focus and concentration skills, turn-taking, increasing eye contact and more.
Those in elder care experiencing health concerns including dementia
Through the physiological impact of favourite music combined with therapeutic awareness and consideration, music can support those experiencing challenges to reflect their nostalgic and authentic selves, to encourage movement and cognitive stimulation thus, reducing the effects of isolation and loneliness and increasing memory, movement and cognition.
Mind Music for Corporate Wellbeing
Enhance productivity, creativity and feeling valued within the workplace.
Nurturing employees’ mental health within the workplace provides the most vital and valued impact for both employer and employee, with long-term sustained and far-reaching benefits for all. There is no more important contribution employers can make to those working within their company and care. Research highlights the correlation between employee mental health and increased productivity, enhanced creativity and feeling valued within the work environment.
Testimonials
"It was such a pleasure meeting you and I really enjoyed the music therapy presentation you gave. It was very warmly received by those who attended on the day and several attendees provided unsolicited feedback to say how much they had enjoyed it too.
I’m sure most people aren’t aware of the existence of music therapy, I know I wasn’t. Yet, as you said, it’s evidence based and it’s benefits are wide ranging. I’ve contributed to the spread of awareness about it on a number of occasions since. As well as your brief overview of music therapy the session on the day had a lovely warm and feel-good ring to it which bonded us through a shared appreciation of music. It was fascinating to hear the different reactions to the pieces you played and the examples people gave of music that evokes a particular emotional response in them.
To summarise, I highly recommend your workshop and hope other companies avail of it."