The Power of Sound: Martin House Music Therapy Featured in New Book

Martin House music therapist Cathy Ibberson has shared her experience of working with children in a newly published book.

Cathy contributed a chapter to Music Therapy in Children’s Palliative Care, which has been published by Routledge. She was invited to write the chapter by the book’s editors, in collaboration with a Martin House family. Her chapter ‘Music therapy in paediatric palliative care – a link between the hospice and the hospital’ focuses on the work she has done visiting children in Martin House’s care for music therapy sessions while they are in hospital.

The book was launched at a conference in Manchester to celebrate 30 years of Jessie’s Fund – a non-profit organisation which supports music therapy for children with complex needs. Cathy and fellow Martin House music therapist Mike Gilroy both attended the conference, which saw music therapists and allied professionals from around the country come together.

From Nurse to Music Therapist

Cathy has been a music therapist at Martin House for 31 years, having previously worked at the hospice as a nurse. She was the first music therapist to work at a children’s hospice in the UK.

Music therapy at Martin House is another way of communicating and engaging with a child or young person, offering an avenue for creative expression. It can also be something they experience with their family, which creates lasting memories. Children and young people coming to Martin House will regularly enjoy a music therapy session as part of their stay, but for the last five years, Cathy has also taken music therapy into Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) as part of our outreach programme.

Jessie’s Fund helped to support Cathy in her training, and in providing instruments to Martin House over the years, and her role paved the way for the more holistic care, involving art and play, as well as music, that we now offer.

Cathy said:

“It was lovely to be at the conference, and have the recognition of Martin House being the first children’s hospice to have music therapy.”

Music Therapy in Children’s Palliative Care – Collaborative Family and Practitioner Voices, eds Victoria Kammin and Julie Russell, is available to buy now.