MUSIC THERAPY
Bob Westfall, BMT, MTA
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Music has nonverbal, creative, structural, and emotional qualities. These are used in the therapeutic relationship to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression, communication, and personal development.
Canadian Association for Music Therapy / Association de Musicothérapie du Canada Annual General Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, May 6, 1994
I graduated from the Bachelor of Music Therapy program at Capilano University in the spring of 2013 and have worked as a music therapist intermittently since then, specializing in geriatrics and mental health. I completed a 1000 hour internship at the Provincial Assessment Centre (dual diagnosis mental health) and the German Canadian Care Home (geriatrics). I am currently a member of the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (www.musictherapy.ca).
In September of 2014, I received my MTA status, and I am now an accredited music therapist.
Long term care facilities that I have worked at as a music therapist (as a subcontractor through Creative Music Therapy Solutions {CMTS}) are:
- OCEAN VIEW CARE HOME (White Rock, BC)
- CAPILANO CARE CENTER (North Vancouver, BC)
- ROSEMARY HEIGHTS SENIORS VILLAGE (South Surrey, BC)
I have also done various private music therapy sessions for clients with developmental delays (Burnaby, BC).
To inquire about music therapy services, please contact:
For more information on the profession of Music Therapy, visit www.musictherapy.ca.
Visit www.musicheals.ca to learn about The Music Heals Foundation, a not-for-profit society formed to help raise awareness of the healing powers of music and to help fundraise for Music Therapy and related services across Canada.