Will Darbyshire explains how a growing profession is set to expand throughout the regions.
Why am I here?
One of the first questions people ask me when I mention I’m a music therapist from Australia (after the inevitable “what is music therapy”) is “Why are you living in Hawke’s Bay?” To answer the first, the short version goes like this: music therapy is the research-based practice where a university-trained professional uses music to actively support people wanting to improve their health and well-being.
The answer to ‘what am I doing here’ is that I am particularly passionate about supporting the accessibility of music therapy services, particularly to those living in regional and rural areas. We know from research music therapy can impact people’s lives in wonderful ways, from supporting the development of social skills, to alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the majority of music therapists working at present are based in the major cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. People living in more rural areas find it more difficult to find a music therapist: it isn’t only medical services that are being underserved in rural areas, it’s creative therapies as well …. Read more
