Impact Report 2024

One of the first things Nova wanted to do when she was able to leave her bed was play the piano. “At the time, she couldn’t quite sit up, and she was using a wheelchair that allowed her to lean back,” said Janelle. “She was so tired, so quiet, but then she went into the music room, straight to the piano, and just started playing.”

"Music therapy made us aware of the developmental potential of our baby while in the NICU.⁠"⁠
⁠
At 26 weeks, baby Leandro was born into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BC Women’s Hospital. While he was in the incubator, his parents Carolina and Rishi said they “didn’t even know what was happening.” Music has always played a very important role in the life of this family. When introduced to the NICU music therapist, Carol, it seemed like the perfect fit.⁠

The Music Therapy Program at Broadway Lodge is open to all of the 108 residents. Residents can freely participate in group or individual music therapy sessions here at the Lodge. These music therapy sessions seek to build human connection and cultivate self-expression. This year’s continued success has been bolstered by the support from Music Heals, enabling us to provide unwavering music therapy service to our cherished residents.

The enhanced availability of music therapy sessions allowed us to cater to a broader range of clients with diverse needs. We continued offering a mix of group and one-on-one sessions, with activities tailored to the unique emotional, social, and cognitive goals of each client. The expansion also allowed us to introduce new areas of care and refine our approach, ensuring we could address the evolving challenges our clients face. In terms of programming, we provided a wide variety of therapeutic interventions designed to foster emotional expression, social connection, and self-empowerment through music.

“Kayla [Music Therapist] is a beautifully talented kind soul. Her music program and her sincere wholehearted way of sharing the healing effects of music was a huge blessing and a vital part of my recovery. We shared, and broke down some of my favorite songs and went deep into the lyrics and put real heartfelt feelings into them. Made the music come alive and able to relate to. I looked forward to every session and believe music therapy is and was vital to the progress I made. Music has the potential to change lives!” - Music Therapy Client

“I’ve never seen Mrs. L socialize and connect in such a deep level. The music allowed her to really express herself” – Music Therapist

Participants in the music therapy programs regularly describe an enhanced sense of overall coping and personal well-being as well as an improved sense of connection and communication within their family. They also consistently report a decreased sense of isolation in their grief and a stronger sense of community and belonging.

At Lumara’s bereavement retreat for families - Camp Kerry – music therapy is one of the ways children and families create positive memories and learn ways to cope with grief.

“It helped my mental health as a new mom of twins and created a safe and comforting environment to be in. It gave me reassurance knowing if I was having an off day that Music Therapy is there to help with my emotions.”

“Music Therapy has been a lifeline for me. After my injury, I felt like I had lost a part of myself, but through these sessions, I’ve been able to reconnect with my love for music and regain some of the abilities I thought were gone forever. It’s not just about playing the guitar again; it’s about finding hope and joy in the process. I’m so grateful for this program and the amazing support I’ve received.”

“Music therapy played a role in increasing readiness to address his death, through working with metaphors and imagery in the music. Music therapy also proved very effective in reducing his physical pain and he would report “the music is magic” and “the music fixes everything”.

“With his family by his side and music filling the room, music therapy transported Grant to a world where he could smile and laugh, free from the difficult decisions he knew awaited him.”

“My mom and dad are proud of me, and you [the music therapist] are proud of me…and I am proud of me!”

The programming shift for 2024 allowed the Music Therapist to conduct detailed individual assessments and create highly personalized care plans, addressing specific life skills, emotional regulation, and communication challenges. By moving even further away from a one-size-fits-all model, they were able to better meet the diverse needs of their clients, particularly those who required additional support outside of group settings. The new focus on one-on-one sessions also created opportunities for deeper therapeutic connections and more effective outcomes.