Focus: Training

In the period from August 2022 to March 2023, Chiltern Music Therapy made significant strides in enhancing our training offer, successfully delivering over 35 training events encompassing engaging presentations, talks, lectures and training sessions. Our diverse audience, totaling approximately 500 attendees from across a wide array of sectors, including education, healthcare and social care, reflected our commitment to promoting the therapeutic benefits of music across disciplines.

We delivered a diverse range of trainings to various organisations this year including music schools and trusts, care homes, international Music Therapy organisations and mental health settings. Individuals booking onto our trainings ranged from Music Therapists, professionals from other sectors, families and carers. While we continued to offer remote options, we were delighted to once again have the opportunity to deliver some of our trainings, talks, and workshops in person.

Our commitment to inclusivity and awareness led us to incorporate new training topics such as Gender Awareness in Music Therapy, Sensory Processing and Music Therapy, ‘Race Issues in Music Therapy, and ‘Neurodiversity Affirming Approaches in Music Therapy. These initiatives aimed to foster understanding, promote equality, and enable practitioners to better serve their diverse clients.

As part of our dedication to raising the profile of the profession, we introduced a new experiential workshop, Music Therapy as a Career. This workshop provides aspiring Music Therapists with valuable insights into the day-to-day work and guidance on routes into the profession.

A highlight of Autumn 2022 was the launch of NEST, our groundbreaking development programme designed to support and nurture newly and recently qualified Music Therapists. This comprehensive programme offers peer group supervisions, mentoring with our most experienced staff, accredited CPD sessions and a community of fellow Music Therapists. At Chiltern we are passionate about nurturing and developing Music Therapists throughout their career. The feedback from our first cohort has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing gratitude for the opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges and engage in CPD together.

“I have really enjoyed connecting with and meeting other music therapists at a similar stage in their career. It can be a very isolating role and experience so this has been great. It has also been great to have extra opportunities for CPD on such a wide range of topics. I have found the topics to be well thought through and relevant”.

NEST Participant

During this period we grew our training newsletter audience to nearly 300 subscribers and enhanced our online presence via our social media channels. The positive feedback received, especially on the option to access recorded sessions and slides, attests to the success of our endeavours.

As we look forward, we are excited to continue expanding our training offer and broadening our scope across various sectors.