World Music Therapy Week is celebrated 10-15 April 2025 and highlights the work of registered music therapists and their impact on people’s lives. 

We sat down with Dana Rossimel, Senior Social Worker – Clinical Practice lead, to talk about music therapy and its importance to families.  

Why do you think music therapy is so important for children? 

The hospital experience can be overwhelming for children and their families. It can often feel prescriptive and isolating. Families can sometimes feel like they are losing their sense of identity – who they were before the cancer diagnosis. The routines, the normal family dynamics, and even those everyday moments that once defined their lives can feel distant or even out of reach. Bringing music therapy into this environment gives children and families the chance to step into a different world, one filled with new sounds, melodies, and rhythms. It creates a safe and calming space, which can help children feel more grounded and mindful, especially in the face of unfamiliar and often confronting medical procedures.  

Music therapy is a therapeutic, evidence-based practice that can make an enormous difference during what is often an incredibly challenging time. It also offers beautiful opportunities to strengthen parent-child bonds, which can be really stretched when a child spends long periods of time in hospital. 

How have you seen music therapy help families?  

As social workers in the paediatric oncology space, we are privileged to witness the incredible impact that music therapy can have on children and their families. Families often tell us about these meaningful moments when a music therapist has stepped in during some of the most challenging times; when a child is feeling really unwell, anxious, or just overwhelmed — and created a safe, comforting space through music, using sounds, melodies, and different instruments. These moments often give children a way to cope, but also, it brings light, joy, and even a sense of normalcy back into their lives, which can feel so far away when cancer is part of the picture. The connections that are formed between the music therapist, the child, and the family are so powerful, and we see again and again just how valuable that is. Families often share how grateful they are for this personalised, sensitive support that meets their child exactly where they are in that moment.  

Is there a story that stands out in your mind, of music therapy helping a child during treatment? 

One story that has stayed with me is of a child who was experiencing heightened anxiety before going in for a scan. By gently matching the rhythm of the child’s, racing heartbeat through music, the therapist was able to gradually calm and regulate the child’s pulse.  

What unfolded was not just a reduction in anxiety, but a powerful therapeutic interaction that allowed the child to regain a sense of safety and control. The music therapist then continued to walk alongside the child to their scan, offering ongoing comfort and support. This moment is a reminder of the unique and profound role music therapists play in easing fear and bringing calm into situations that can otherwise feel overwhelming for children and their families. 

 I’ve also seen how valuable it is when social workers and music therapists work closely together. When we collaborate and assess alongside each other, we can really tailor our support to meet the child and family’s needs. This can create a more holistic support system for the child and family.