Advancing Music Therapy In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Canadian Music Therapy

We have three guests we are featuring on this episode: Tyler Reidy, Teresa Ianni and Laura Hastings. Tyler shares his journey as a NICU music therapist and the ways his work impacts babies and families each day. Teresa tells us more about an amazing quality improvement project in the neonatal intensive unit of a hospital and what her vision is for the future of music therapy. Finally, Laura tells us more about her drive to create the nation-wide network of music therapists working in the NICU.

Here is a little more about Tyler, Theresa and Laura:

Tyler:

A Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and Registered Psychotherapist (RP) living in Guelph, and working in Kitchener-Waterloo. He earned his Master of Music Therapy degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. He is one of the full-time medical music therapists at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener Ontario in the Children's program providing services to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Inpatient Pediatrics Unit, and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic.

Tyler also works as a Child and Family Therapist at Bloom: Child & Family Therapy in Kitchener . Tyler has further training in the First Sounds: Rhythm Breath and Lullaby NICU music therapy training and in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT).

Theresa:

A Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and a Certified Music Therapist (MTA). She has a Master’s degree in Music Therapy (MMT) and specialized training in Neurological Music Therapy (NMT) and NICU music therapy (Rhythm Breath Lullaby). Theresa has been working as a music therapist for over 13 years where she has had the opportunity to work with children and adults with developmental delays, neurological impairments and mental health disorders. Theresa currently works full-time at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto) in Geriatric Care; Alzheimer’s’ Dementia and End of Life, and has recently completed a Quality Improvement project in the Sunnybrook NICU “Implementing a Music Therapy Program”. Theresa is also the owner and director of a music therapy private practice which supports children and young adults on the Autism Spectrum.

Laura:

Laura graduated from Capilano University in 2013 after completing her internship at BC Children's Hospital. After practicing for 4 years in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, she went on to complete a Master's in music therapy at Concordia University in Montreal. There, she joined forces with Capilano graduate Alison Usher-Jones in her private practice working with individuals with autism. After 4 years in Montreal, she returned to the West Coast to work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and in long-term care. Laura is excited to be in the new Board position of President Elect and to support BC music therapists.