Co-director at Creative Note Music Therapy
Olivia was an exceptionally accomplished musician who worked in Athens before undertaking a Master’s in Music Therapy in the UK. She was inspired to train as a music therapist after working voluntarily in Athens helping children in a rehabilitation centre with various neurological conditions. In her role as a Music Therapist, she has gained experience across a wide variety of settings including the NHS and residential settings with children, young people and adults with communication problems, learning difficulties, autism and neurological injuries. She has also worked both in schools and in the community with children who have experienced traumatic loss through bereavement or attachment disruptions or witnessed frightening events such as domestic violence. With sound being the first language, Olivia believes we are naturally attuned to melodic rhythms and naturally responsive to musical sounds. In her work, she helps children and adults explore the tempo and rhythm of painful feelings through different musical instruments. Musical interactions also help in the exploration of deeper feelings where sound replaces words and rhythm allows for moments of restorative action through tentative musical interactions improvising with different instruments. These small musical interactions, where the therapeutic relationship is forged through the tempo and rhythm of our inner voice, are often moments of deep healing, says Olivia. Her soft and gentle approach facilitates the exploration of musical patterns which allows her to work around the edges of a person’s relational sensitivities, through rhythmic alterations in tempo and melody and relational improvisation. Olivia also specialises in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), which is a more receptive music therapy technique.
Olivia is a fully accredited Music Therapist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery (FAMI) and fully registered with the British Association of Music Therapy (BAMT),
Co-director at Creative Note Music Therapy
Diarmuid has been providing music therapeutically for over ten years. Growing up in the north west of Ireland he was immersed in the arts from a young age and quickly began to understand the cultural importance of music for identity and community. An accomplished musician, Diarmuid has toured extensively across Europe with orchestras. It was through these experiences that he realised that music was much more than a private pleasure confined to the practice room or rehearsal space, but rather a core aspect of how we communicate as humans. This inspiration was the catalyst for a master’s degree in music therapy which Diarmuid achieved with distinction in 2012. Since moving to England, he has continued researching and training and is certified as an NMT practitioner.
Diarmuid has extensive experience working with children and adults across the life span in the public, private and charity sectors. This includes children with various developmental disorders and children with complex trauma histories. His work with adults includes the spheres of learning disabilities, neuro-disability, dementia, and end of life care. At the heart of his work is the belief that there is an inherent musicality in every person regardless of disability or age, and that this is the key to promoting the intrinsic desire of human connection and belonging. The improvised routines of mother-infant interactions are a source of research which has demonstrated the key roles that pitch, rhythm and timing have on developing and sustaining healthy human relationships. Diarmuid also grounds his work in neuroscience and neurobiology, recognising the regulating power of rhythm on sensitised stress response systems. The use of music is a powerful tool, capable of modulating and entraining internal biological rhythms to promote equilibrium and better health for the individual and for communities.
Diarmuid is a full member of the British Association of Music Therapy (BAMT) and a member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)