Hannah Hayes - Music Therapist

What is Music Therapy? 

Music Therapists are HCPC-registered psychological professionals. They work in various settings with people of all ages (in schools, hospitals, hospices, neuro-rehabilitation facilities, with older adults, mental health settings) and offer a therapeutic space to feel heard with or without words. You do not need to know how to play musical instruments to have music therapy. Music Therapists work with the client and their musical expressions to offer a safe and nurturing environment where clients can bring their thoughts and feelings safely into the space. Music Therapists work with all children, young people, and adults and it is accessible to all. Music Therapy offers a creative space for self-expression. The music used in sessions together is often improvisatory, where the therapist and client make music together. Music Therapists are highly trained to listen to the client’s music and respond in a way that feels supportive and connected to what is expressed.

How do I work? 

Before we have words, we have music and sound. Babies are innately musical beings and learn to express their desires through musical ways of communicating to their caregivers. Central to my work as a psychodynamic music therapist is what is being felt within the therapeutic relationship. I work with music as the modality which offers a space to feel heard, though often words are used too. Music can reach those emotions that we might not have the language for yet. In my work as a Music Therapist, I offer an open space to express yourself freely, to be held and heard within the musical frame. 

Alongside my private practice, I work for the NHS as a Paediatric Music Therapist at a Children’s Hospital with children with complex medical needs. I work with parents/caregivers and their babies, children, and adolescents. Here at New Road Psychotherapy, I offer group music therapy for parents and their infant/s, Supportive Music and Imagery for adults (virtual), and music therapy sessions for children. 

My qualifications 

I hold a MA in Music Therapy with distinction from Roehampton University. I have Qualified Teacher Status and I worked as a Secondary and Primary Music Teacher for several years prior to training as a therapist. I have BMUS in Music from Royal Holloway, University of London. 

I have attained a Certificate in Supportive Music and Imagery from the Integrative GIM Training Programme and offer this 6-10 session intervention virtually. 

Specialisms and Experience

• Adopted children and children in foster care

• Children and adolescents with learning disabilities

• Childhood trauma

• Children and young people

• School non-attendance

• Low mood

• Anxiety

• Parents and infants (one-to-one and group sessions)

• Children with complex medical needs 

• Neonate graduates and their parents/caregivers