CT Music Therapy Services Offer Free Group Music Therapy Programs at the SHACK

Sandy Hook and Newtown families are encouraged to sign up for one of many free group music therapy sessions at the SHACK, presented by CT Music Therapy Services. 

Beginning on Saturday, May 11th, children, teens and families are invited to come and experience a music therapy session led by board certified professionals in the industry. Part healing, part music and all fun, CT Music Therapy Services, LLC’s programs are a wonderful addition to our mix of workshops and classes at the SHACK. The first set of workshops begins on Saturday, May 11th. The sessions are 45-minutes long and time slots available are as follows:

• 12:00 – 3-6 year old
• 1:00 – 7-11 year old
• 2:00 – ages 12 and up
• 3:00- family group- mixed ages

This program is supported, in part, by the American Music Therapy Association and through the generous funding of the Brenda H. Kaplan Music Therapy Fund.Call 203-304-9555 for more information.

Please email sandyhookartscenter@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

About CT Music Therapy Services, LLC–

Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC has been providing music therapy throughout the state of CT since 2005. We help people with a variety of physical, communicative and emotional needs, using music as our intervention modality. We work with individuals of all ages in a wide variety of settings, including schools, homes, nursing homes, private practice, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, and many others.

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (AMTA). Music therapists are highly trained individuals who have completed a 4-year degree in music therapy or the equivalent, an internship, and have passed the Board Certification Exam in Music Therapy to receive the credential MT-BC. Continuing education is required to maintain the MT-BC credential. Many of the music therapists in our practice have received masters degrees in music therapy as well.

Why CT Music Therapy, LLC is here–

It is important for Sandy Hook families to understand that music therapy is not just making music together with or for others, performing music in public, attending drum circles, etc. Based upon each individual’s needs we are trained to create musical interventions which can help in a variety of areas, for example developing stress management, creative expression, communication, social support, resilience, and positive coping. Like any other type of therapy the client-therapist relationship is private and confidential.

Because we have been called upon to provide services to those impacted by the events of 12/14, we are reaching out to community organizations like SHACK to help the community increase their awareness of the availability of music therapy during this challenging time.

S.H.A.C.K. Session Description–

During MT sessions, a variety of interventions take place which may include singing, movement, listening to music, songwriting, song discussion, improvisation, instrument playing, etc. MT sessions at S.H.A.C.K. are grouped based on the age of participants, and the music is based on their preferences and interests. Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate with their child, or allow music therapy sessions to be a time for independence, as may be the case with older participants.

Special note: Unlike individual music therapy, in community based music therapy sessions, experiences are focused on development/maintenance of resilience and community support/ participation, rather than in-depth processing.