Music therapy

Music therapy is a professional allied health service in which a Registered Music Therapist uses music with purpose — improvisation, singing, songwriting, music listening and music imagery — to work towards each person's own goals. Elements such as rhythm, melody and harmony offer a clear, predictable structure for communication, emotional expression and connection.

Unlike a music lesson, music therapy needs no musical background: the focus is the person, not the performance. Each journey follows a cycle of assessment → individual plan → music experiences → review, with families and caregivers kept informed. Music therapy supports children, teens, adults and older adults — including children with special educational needs (SEN), people looking for emotional and social support, and older adults living with dementia. Sessions explore five areas: Emotion · Connection · Attention · Creativity · Expression.

At AWRTC, our music therapy offerings are led by Registered Music Therapist Justin Tso (AMTA, HKMTA) and include:

Music Therapy Seminar – An introduction to what music therapy is, with a live improvised music experience and Q&A (adults)

Caregiver Workshop – A relaxing music experience for parents and caregivers, especially suited to those caring for children with SEN

Music Therapy Groups – Small groups by age (2–9), covering Social Connection (with a parent), Social Expression, and Attention & Regulation

Individual Music Therapy – One-to-one assessment and sessions for children, teens and adults (16+)

SEN Ability Groups – Small groups for children with SEN aged 5–9, grouped by ability after assessment

All sessions are educational and therapeutic in nature and are not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Individual results vary. No musical background needed; suitable for all ages.