Contact:

In-person and/or online sessions

WELCOME

Musical Elements is a faith based therapy where God is invited, acknowledged and wanted in each session. He can do what we cannot.<3

Musical Elements Music Therapy

Explore and Enjoy

About

Are you interested in Music Therapy for your child or youth?

My name is Ruth Mihailoff, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself.

I have recently relocated to Nova Scotia from the Okanagan in British Columbia with my husband, son, and dog. I was born and raised in the beautiful Okanagan.

I have 15+ years musical experience, and am trained with the Royal Conservatory of Music.

I have a great love of children, families, and music! I have spent most of my life

working with families and their children, utilizing music into the learning process.

I have 15+ years of experience working with children diagnosed with ASD and

other diagnosis', using ABA Therapy in Behaviour Intervention and Intensive

Behaviour Intervention Therapy.

I am certified with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Behaviour Intervention, and Mental Health.

My experience also encompasses

working in Mental Health with adults and youth, and in the school district.

Musical Elements was birthed as a culmination of these years of experience and expertise I acquired through education, training and hands on work.

This Music Therapy business venture began over 7 years ago, and it has been my extreme pleasure to work with many families and children, aiding them in gaining useful skills that add value and functionality to their lives.

I very much look forward to communicating with you to answer any questions you may have, including discussing your goals for your family members, and how music therapy can help them meet those goals, while bringing musical expression into their lives.

What goals can be worked on through Music Therapy?

Sensory - increasing comfort level/tolerating loud/noisy sounds for longer periods of time. increasing toleration of touch on a variety of surfaces including: keyboard/piano keys, guitar strings, and hand drums.

Regulation- working on self-regulation - lowering anxiety, playing music or listening to instruments being played as a functional break, therapeutic playing/listening to the vibrations and sounds, hand input/feedback from djembe drum playing, etc..

Fine Motor strengthening - plucking guitar strings, xylophone play, working on independence of fingers playing keyboard, etc..

Gross Motor - strengthening core and balance through dance and movement, hand and stick drumming with work on increasing stamina.

Hand/eye coordination - using alternating hands on instruments, hands together play, crossing mid-line activities.

Life Skills - Learning coping strategies, confidence/independence building, accepting mistakes and working on perseverance in perceived difficult tasks.

Verbal - singing sounds or words -promoting speech, working on specific speech goal sounds.

Humming sounds - focusing on the vibrations, and becoming present - with or without music (this is also regulating).

For younger children, or those that have a current shorter attention span, there will often be many different activities to move through to promote focus and enjoyment.

Many children also gain musical understanding and ability in playing instruments, which could give them opportunity to utilize this resource independently in their daily lives, and as they age. (Instruments utilized in sessions, include: piano, keyboard, guitar, djembe, rhythm sticks, recorder).

In a group setting; social skills, joint attention, and joint participation are typically the focus, where eye contact and gaining understanding of facial cues can also be worked on incidentally.

Enjoyment of music, and allowing for musical expression and individual creativity is also a key element of Music Therapy.