Hi, I’m Felicia, DWSP’s new Registered Music Therapist.
I was born and raised in Sydney but I’ve always felt a connection to Melbourne, so after I completed my Music Therapy studies in 2006 I made the move south. I come from a music family, with my grandfather, father and brother all having been professional musicians, so I knew I always wanted to do something with music but also felt a desire to help people, a trait I no doubt inherited from my mother, a retired psychologist. When I saw an article in the employment section of the newspaper (back when newspapers *had* an employment section) profiling the profession of music therapy, all the pieces just seemed to fit.
My original interest was working with the Deaf community, and this continues to be a passion of mine, but over time I have developed a fondness for working with adults and children with disabilities. Over my 16 year career I have worked in a variety of settings, with a variety of individuals, but have always enjoyed observing the way music therapy can connect people. To paraphrase one of my favourite movies, Mr Holland’s Opus: I am a music therapist and I will use anything from Beethoven to The Wiggles to Lizzo if I think it will help me to engage with someone.
Recently I have been experiencing therapy from the other side of the desk with my young son diagnosed with a speech and language delay, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This has given me a deeper insight into the challenges faced by the families I support. It also gave me the motivation to go back to University to study towards my Master of Speech Pathology, and, once I graduate. I aim to use both disciplines to best support the families I see.
I am excited to be a part of the DWSP team, and remember: where words fail, music speaks.