Music Therapy

Sometimes it can be difficult to put our thoughts and feelings into words.

Music Therapy can help by offering different ways to express these.

Patient & family support Other therapy teams
A patient relaxes and laughs during a music therapy session
Music therapist plays a Sounding Bowl on the Inpatient Unit
Three patients play various instruments as part of Music Therapy session in the Hospice's Sanctuary
Music Therapist and MA student from ARU, surrounded by all kinds of musical instruments
Three people taking part in a music therapy session sing along to the keyboard

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a form of emotional and psychological support that combines music making, listening and talking.

Music can say what cannot be expressed verbally; it can be a way for family members to come together and share memories and experiences; it can provide solace and distraction from pain and anxiety.

Anyone can participate in and benefit from Music Therapy; no musical background or skill is required and it is adapted to the needs of each individual.

How is music therapy provided at the Hospice?

Music therapy is provided by qualified music therapists or trainees under supervision in groups, individually and at the bed-side. The post is supported by Anglia Ruskin University, and our trainee is from their MA in Music Therapy.

We are able to work with patients who have been referred to our Inpatient Unit and Living Well Services.

Read more about the benefits of music therapy

Contact

Email: pfs@arhc.org.uk  

Or call: 01223 675770

Living Well Services

A patient in Living Well Services, laughing as she enjoys a paintint session

Inpatient Unit

Inpatient Unit bedroom looking onto gardens

I didn’t feel very lively before, but when I come here, the music enlivens me. It’s liberating!

 November 2021

FAQ's

What type of sessions do you offer?

Activities can include:

  • Listening to and reflecting on meaningful music
  • Playing accessible instruments expressively
  • Song writing
  • Creating playlists for different moods
  • Using music for pain management and relaxation
  • Singing to help with breathing
  • Musical life story

Sessions take place weekly in the Living Well Service and we visit the Inpatient Unit weekly, to offer music therapy to patients and family members.

We are always grateful for any support, so if you would be interested to talk to us specifically about funding an aspect of Music Therapy, please get in touch. 

I am able to provide music therapy to you, if you have been referred into the Living Well, Inpatient Unit and Patients and Family Support services.

Thanks to the dedication, commitment and generosity of the local community and the hard work of our senior leadership team to secure vital contracts with the NHS, all our services are free of charge.     

It will cost £11.51 million this financial year to operate our services. Contracted services from the NHS are budgeted at £7.07 million,  meaning that £4.44 million needs to be raised through donations, fundraising activities and trading. 

We are extremely grateful to our local community for the continual dedication, commitment and generosity they show in supporting us to meet this target.

Music Therapist Helen, with her viola

Helen, Music Therapist

Helen has worked as a music therapist for over 30 years with adults, children and families. She is enthusiastic about the many ways that music can help in palliative care; improving mood and well-being, help with breathing and managing distressing symptoms. She also enjoys providing environmental music around the Hospice for patients, carers and staff, adding: “Music is around us in our lives, on the radio, tv and in our own music collections. We may use music to relax, to raise our mood, or to help us sleep. We are all born musical, and even if we don’t play an instrument, we still have a response to it.”