Wandsworth Music’s Saturday Music Therapy sessions began in Spring 2022, supported by the council’s Arts for Health and Wellbeing Fund. Below are two case studies from families and children who have participated in the sessions via Social Prescribing over the past two years.

Arelyse’s story

Through developing a musical relationship with the therapist, Arelyse has found new ways of expressing herself and communicating with others to:

• increase her independence through developing abilities to touch instruments and express clear choices.
• acknowledge, express and explore her feelings through the non-verbal medium of music. This has provided both emotional release and excitement.
• develop her ability to regulate her emotions; Develop her vocal skills.
• engage in positive social interaction and develop her abilities to communicate and relate.

“I believe that Arelyse has found her voice attending music therapy sessions. We have been attending for just over a year and we continue because it is one of the few activities she seems to enjoy.  I’m guessing the sessions do not feel like work to her, but are both engaging and fun.  She runs into her sessions with anticipation and runs out with a wonderful smile. Since attending, Arelyse has started to make sounds more clearly; she has started to talk; and most recently, she has also started to sing! Songs that have big words in them sprouting entire sentences from songs; she is grasping so much language and harmonising also. I’m so excited for her; her confidence in speech has grown and the sessions have complimented her SLT that she is receiving at school. I’m so glad we attended these sessions – an enjoyable must for anyone who wants to see improvement in language development and confidence in speaking from their child.” 

Arelyse’s mother

Sophia’s story

Sophia is a young girl who has Autism. Sophia is non-verbal and understands more visual than listening She loves to play with alphabets and numbers and is described by her mother as being a happy girl.​ Sophia was referred to Music Therapy by her mother in the Spring 2022 to help develop her language skills with intentional communicative vocalisations, improve emotional regulation with frustrations from changing environments and to help with social interaction. Sophia has attended the Wandsworth Music therapy Clinic at Burntwood School for just over a year for music therapy sessions which took place on Saturdays. Sophia attends a SEN school for children with various forms of special educational needs and was referred to music therapy in April 2022. Since then, she has attended a pair group music therapy sessions for 30 minutes on a weekly basis with another child. Through developing a musical relationship with the therapist, Sophia has found new ways of expressing herself and communicating with others.

“Music Therapy gives our daughter an opportunity to explore her love of music, work through some of her feelings and try out instruments. The sessions have a positive impact on her mental health as well as improving her speech, communication and social skills”.

Sophia’s mother