ET Music Therapy Inc.is an established music therapy practiCe, serving the Metro VancouveR area since 1996.
We offer services with a holistic approach, family centred, client directed experience, and with a diverse forward philosophy, presuming competence. We believe in supporting the diverse individual in achieving his/her/their authentic potential, respecting and celebrating their diversity. We are trauma informed, sensory informed, use a positive behavioral approach, and individualize each program to each unique individual, to promote connection and independence. We collaborate with other service providers to support each client we serve.
The dynamic musical experience provides a safe, nurturing environment in which an individual can feel secure and confident to explore. Because music has stimulating, sensory, motivational and emotive qualities, it can be used as a tool to elicit music, verbal, emotional or corporeal responses and promote interaction and engagement in an enjoyable and often effortless way. An individual will always integrate new information and skills when there is inner motivation and curiosity. Music can be the built in reward. In music therapy sessions, experiences can facilitate development in all skill domains. All activities are tailored to the client's ability level & are designed to utilize his/her/their personal strengths, motivations and interests.
ET Music Therapy is committed to an equal opportunity environment that celebrates and promotes diversity at every level. ET Music Therapy does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
We acknowledge and respect that the services we provide take place on the traditional territory of Indigenous Peoples, including the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the Musqueam and The Cowichan First Nation.
Sessions may include:
Experiences targeting Auditory skills: discrimination/sequencing/aud. figure ground
Therapeutic application of guitar, piano, percussive instruments etc.
Creative movement to music, utilizing both improvised & recorded music
Exploration & improvisation of small percussive & melodic instruments
Structured simple sequence musical games with visual re-enforcers.
Vocal improvisation & vocal exploration
Songs/interventions targeting speech development
Professionally guided musical interactions/ experiences providing proprioceptive/vibrational input from selected instruments for self regulation
Weekly Hello & Goodbye songs providing ritual and routine
Song writing
Educational Kinesiology strategies
Application of sensory integration strategies & RDI techniques
Representational musical play
Child created/guided musical activities
Positive Behavior Support/ behavior management techniques
Adapted music lesson segments/sessions for guitar, percussion, and piano.
Example of a Goodbye Song- sung at the end of a session:
““Who loves music? Music therapy has been an important part of my son’s life since he was 3 years old and we have been abundantly blessed to be able to take him to the extraordinary local music therapist, Esther Thane who now runs ET Music Therapy. Music therapy helped him literally to find his voice which was a tiny little whisper when he started. It improved his coordination, his listening skills, his self-regulation and his ability to identify and express emotion.”
““On this 25th Anniversary of ET Music Therapy, I send huge congratulations and gratitude for the gift of your work over all these years, Esther! You continue to make a huge contribution to the development of the music therapy profession. Over the years I have witnessed your passion and energy for learning and generously sharing your skills and wisdom with your students and colleagues, particularly about working with children with autism and their families. Thanks for your inspired and profound contributions. With much appreciation, Liz” ”
Looking Back Over the First 25 years:
