What is this program?
The Harmony OnTrack Music Therapy Clinic was created by student music therapists with guidance from our Family Leaders. This service is a collaboration between Wilfrid Laurier University and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
The clinic offers virtual music therapy services, mental health resources, and wellness support to parents and caregivers of children with special needs at no cost. The goal is to provide music therapy services that directly align with the parents' and caregivers' best hopes and wishes. Throughout the process, the students are guided by the four principles of family-centred care established by Holland Bloorview.
Music therapy is an established health profession that creatively uses music to meet the needs and goals of individuals of all ages. Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice with the potential to assist with alleviating and addressing symptoms and issues caused by:
- daily stressors,
- medical illness,
- grief, and
- mental health challenges.
For example, listening to music can help address feelings of stress related to daily life, or songwriting can support and explore relationships and connections with others.
Please visit the Canadian Association of Music Therapists website to learn more about music therapy.
Services we provide:
All music therapy sessions are facilitated by student music therapists from Wilfrid Laurier University and supervised by registered music therapists from Holland Bloorview.
Services offered to parents and caregivers in the Holland Bloorview community include:
- Individual music therapy sessions,
- Weekly closed music therapy groups,
- Drop-in music therapy groups,
- General resources for the Holland Bloorview community, and
- Additional music therapy, wellness, and mental health resources.
How to register:
- Submit the registration form, or
- Contact SLEclinic@wlu.ca
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, we accept ongoing registration for individual sessions.
Sessions are facilitated through Zoom Healthcare, a secure online service.
Music therapy sessions range from 30-60 minutes, depending on your individual needs. Sessions are booked in 10-week blocks and can be scheduled 1-2 times per week. We customize the program to meet your needs following the initial assessment session(s).
This service is available at no cost due to the support from the Holland Bloorview Foundation.
We use music in a therapeutic relationship to help improve your quality of life and meet your goals. For example, listening to music or songwriting can help you manage daily stress. Music-making can also help address mental health, connect you with others, build resilience, and much more.
No, you don’t need any previous experience or formal training in music to benefit from music therapy.
We facilitate sessions to assist parents and caregivers and learn how music can be helpful and provide meaning in daily life. The music therapy sessions are for you and your wellness! If you are interested in music therapy services for your child, please visit our Music page for more information.
The student music therapist will help you learn how to navigate Zoom Healthcare. You can also refer to the Virtual Care Tip Sheet created by Holland Bloorview or learn more directly from the Zoom Support website.
