Music therapy is a discipline in which credentialed professionals (Music Therapist Accredited/MTA) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being .

MTAs use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social and spiritual domains.

- Canadian Association for Music Therapists Vancouver, 2016

Music therapy is evidence-based and research-informed.

Music therapists have specific education on how the various properties of music affect all aspects of health.

Music therapists set goals and objectives and follow a treatment plan.

The therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist contributes to the change and attainment of goals.

Music is used as a means to substantial, and often permanent, non-musical treatment outcomes.

- Canadian Association for Music Therapists 

This means, in sessions, we might make music together, sing together,  listen to music together or write music together, but never for the purpose of becoming better at music, but rather, becoming better humans. While doing so, we will explore your feelings and concerns and creatively express your feelings and concerns. The music therapist guides you every step of the way and can teach you how to make music and write, even if you've never done it before. In fact, most clients of Music Therapy are not musicians and have never thought of themselves as musical. If you enjoy music, Music Therapy will work for you.  

Psychotherapy is primarily a talk-based therapy and is intended to help people improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. Registered Psychotherapists work with individuals, couples and families in individual and group settings. Psychotherapy occurs when the Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and client enter into a psychotherapeutic relationship where both work together to bring about positive change in the client’s thinking, feeling, behaviour and social functioning. Individuals usually seek psychotherapy when they have thoughts, feelings, moods and behaviours that are adversely affecting their day-to-day lives, relationships and the ability to enjoy life.

- College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

It means, through the use of a trusting relationship, the therapist will help you move through your challenges to develop better relationships, better boundaries, better wellness. At Durham Music Therapy, we employ many techniques including Rapid Resolution Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy in order to find the perfect balance between acceptance and change in life. We can help with anxiety, depression, care giver burn out and trauma. Psychotherapy can incorporate any form of expressive communication, it doesn't have to just be talking. At Durham Music Therapy, we incorporate art, music, writing and movement into our work if that aligns with the client. Maybe talking is not your thing,....you can feel and respond in many ways, not just through words.