Policies and Procedures
Guard Goose Music Therapy
Policies and Procedures
Description:
Adapted music lessons are an individualized approach to music education designed to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. These lessons focus on fostering musical growth in ways that support cognitive, communicative, physical, and social development.
Adaptation of the music education helps to ensure that each individual can reach their musical goals, regardless of their ability. Strategies music therapists use to adapt music lessons includes individualized goals, modifying instruments, multisensory activities and prompting, and flexible teaching styles. Adapted music lessons help individuals with disabilities to benefit from music education in ways that transcend musical ability. Music education can help to bring non-musical benefits as well, including the enrichment of communication, social interaction, confidence, sensorimotor ability, and emotional expression.
When conducted by a trained music therapist, individuals with developmental conditions and disabilities can be more likely to glean these non-musical benefits that are naturally cultivated in music education.
Guard Goose Music Therapy offers music therapy services to individuals who seek support. Music therapy is the clinical use of music to facilitate functional goals that might include social skills, emotional regulation, cognitive abilities, and more. By carefully designing musical experiences, our services target individualized goals developed by the client and their families.
Guard Goose Music Therapy provides adapted music lessons to individuals with developmental differences and disabilities. These lessons are designed to enrich overall wellbeing through the meaningful musical experiences and education while providing support in functional abilities such as motor skills, speech development, and emotional regulation. The program prioritizes creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters self-expression, personal growth, and community connection. Services entail one-on-one adapted music lessons tailored to each client’s unique abilities and goals.
Company Values
At Guard Goose Music Therapy, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive environment that promotes growth and learning. Our values guide our mission to empower individuals and build a resilient community through music. We see the growth of our students in the same way one cultivates a plant. No plant is the same, and a healthy garden requires careful attention to the individual needs of each plant. In the same way, we practice attentive listening to each of our students and design tailored experiences that provide the most meaningful fulfillment for the student and their family.
Safety and Support: We provide a secure and welcoming space where clients can express themselves freely and confidently.
Inclusivity: We work with individuals of all abilities and backgrounds, tailoring our approach to meet each client’s needs. We are passionate about providing the experience in a way that fosters the interests and strengths of each individual
Growth and Learning: We encourage personal development, skill-building, and well-being through the transformative power of music.
Fun and Enrichment: Music is a source of joy and creativity, which is foundational to a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Empowerment: We support clients in reaching their potential, building resilience, and enhancing their connections with others.
Evidence-Based Practices:
In an effort to provide excellent care for clients, Guard Goose Music Therapy is committed to operating from evidence-based practices and the latest research in neuroscience and Neurologic Music Therapy. Our methods combine music interventions with scientifically valid techniques to effectively address cognitive, motor, speech, and emotional goals.
We are passionate about regularly enriching our ability to serve the community by staying informed about research and advancements in the field to ensure that our services are effective and aligned with best practices. This commitment allows us to design personalized programs for each client that foster both musical growth and overall well being for the betterment of both the individuals we serve and the broader community.
Assessment:
At Guard Goose Music Therapy, we are committed to providing excellent care for our clients and their families. Each clients’ program is tailored to their unique strengths and needs through careful observation and thorough communication with the client and client’s parent/caregiver.
The assessment process takes four weeks. These first few weeks involve observation of the client in various activities, review of IEP documentation (if applicable), and communication with the client and client’s parent/caregiver. The insights gained in this process help us to create goals that effectively support the client’s goals.
By the end of the assessment period, goals are proposed to the clients and/or client’s parent/caregiver.
The client is invited to suggest changes or additional goals. Once the goals are approved, the goals are established and addressed throughout the next service period.
Documentation:
Session notes and progress on goals are documented after each session and communicated with the client/parent/caregiver upon request.
A report with additional resources is provided upon request.
Service rates:
Clients can choose a variety of session lengths that include a chosen combination of direct service and information session.
Direct service includes services directly with the music therapist
Information session includes developing strategies with the client/parent/caregiver to equip themselves with tools, resources, and information used to succeed outside of the session
As communication is an important aspect in personalized care, time for consultation and documentation are built into the session structure. Custom session lengths will be considered when requested
Services are $125 an hour
Resources:
GGMT emphasizes the importance of a well rounded educational approach to ensure the skills learned in the session transfer effectively to everyday life. Information sessions involve a discussion with the client/parent/caregiver to cultivate tools, resources, and information that may help to enrich the progress made in direct service.
Attendance Policy:
Maintaining consistency with regular attendance is integral to making progress in sessions. By enrolling in adapted music sessions with Guard Goose Music Therapy, clients commit to attending weekly sessions and adhering to the cancellation policy.
Cancelation policy:
At Guard Goose Music Therapy, we strive for flexibility amidst fluctuations in everyday routine changes. To maintain a excellent quality of care, we ask that cancellations be made at least 48 hours in advance.
Cancellations with 48 Hours’ Notice or More: No charge
Cancellations with Less Than 48 Hours’ Notice: The client will be charged the full session fee.
If you need to reschedule, please contact us as soon as possible to avoid a cancellation fee.