Synergy Music Therapy is the sister practice to the Able Voice Podcast founded by Hayley Francis Cann and Kimberly Dolan. In this episode we are joined by some of our clinical team members including Jessica Nielsen, Rebekah Armstrong, Olivia Maveal, and Nicole Cordeau. We had such a wonderful time chatting with Sarah and Kim during the first "REAL TALK" conversation that we were inspired to have more. This was another fantastic chat from the perspective of certified music therapists in various points in their career. Our main takeaways from these two episodes are that more spaces to have these types of conversations are needed. SO, this will not be the last of these REAL TALK chats. This series will return in a future season of AVP. For now, enjoy this REAL TALK chat with the Synergy Music Therapy team.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we have an open and honest conversation about our work as music therapists - the ebs, the flows, the ups, the downs, the lessons learned and what we wish we knew sooner.

Kim Best is a board-certified music therapist based in Rochester, New York. Kim has clinical experience providing Music Therapy with adults with Dementia, children with Autism and various intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with Mental Health challenges, Adults with cancer, and those at the end of life for the last 10 years. She is the founder of Kim Best Music Therapy, co-host of Seasons of Resilience podcast, and the host of Not Your Average Music Therapist podcast. 

Sarah Bell is a certified music therapist based in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. Sarah has clinical experience working in psychiatric care and community mental health programs serving adults and young adults with anxiety and depression


, children and young adults with neurodiversity, university students with anxiety and depression, amateur musicians
 with burnout, trauma informed support groups
 for women, newcomer/refugee communities

, Indigenous communities, and

 transient communities. Sarah is the founder of Bell Counseling Services with a passion for Supervising and EDI work.

We thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Sarah and Kim, so much that more honest conversations like this are coming soon. For now, we hope you enjoy this first REAL TALK. 

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What do three millennial women of varying professions have in common? A shared philosophy and passion for enhancing dementia care and supporting those they work with!

In this episode of the Able Voice Podcast we are joined by Kaylee (MT-BC), Jaell (Art Therapist + Mental Health Counselor), and Erin (Positive Approach to Care® Certified Independent Trainer), of the Creative Dementia Collective. They share of their individual journeys, the carepartner relationship, and their new legacy workbooks.

As a multi-modality trio, these millennials have an extensive toolkit to best support those they work with and they use this to their advantage knowing that “Different things work for different people at different times”.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Dr. Sandi Curtis, MTA, MT-BC is the founder and Distinguished Professor Emerita for the music therapy program at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. She is the author of “Music for Women Survivors of Violence” (Barcelona Publishers, 2019) and co-investigator in a $2.5 million Social Sciences and Humanities research grant, iMPACTS: Addressing Sexual Violence on Campus. Dr. Sandi Curtis is an internationally trained music therapist, with extensive experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She has worked with palliative care patients, disabled adults, and survivors of male violence.

As part of social action work to eliminate male violence and assist survivors, Dr. Curtis produced a film titled "Beyond #MeToo" linked in the description below this episode. We're privileged to welcome Dr. Sandi Curtis to the Able Voice Podcast to talk about her work with Women Survivors of Violence.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠⁠.

Roia Rafieyan recently retired from long-term employment as a music therapist in a residential care facility in the United States. Most of the last 33 years were spent in the company of institutionalized nonspeaking Autistic people with whom she collaboratively and continuously worked to evolve into a more respectful music therapist.

Roia spent most of her time as a music therapist working in a state facility for people labelled with various intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Voices article authored by Roia titled, "Getting to 'no' you: When nonspeaking autistic people refuse music therapy," notes that nonspeaking people are often placed in music therapy, not necessarily because they want to be there. She believes it's incumbent upon us, as music therapists, to learn how nonspeaking people communicate "no," so we can begin to honor efforts at self-determination/self-advocacy.

Roia’s current interests are arts-based research, collage, and reading. Her enduring interests are relationally-based music therapy approaches, reflexive practice and clinical supervision.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠⁠.

Sophie’s Place is a nonprofit organization made possible by the Forever Young Foundation. Their mission is to bring music therapy clinics to pediatric hospitals throughout the nation. Sophie’s Place is named for Sophie Barton, a young singer-songwriter who loved to volunteer at Primary Children’s hospital before she passed away due to heart complications. Steve and Barb Young, founders of the Forever Young Foundation, strive to honor Sophie’s memory through bringing music and healing to young hospital patients all over the US. They are passionate about the real medicinal benefits of music therapy.

There are currently 6 Sophie’s Place locations across the US with more to come! We are pleased to welcome two therapist’s from the Sophie’s Place team to the podcast: Maleea Roy and Jesse Morgan.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠⁠ or⁠⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠⁠@immvproductions⁠⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠⁠@mtahayley⁠⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠⁠@mta.kimberly⁠⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠⁠.

In this episode, Rachael Finnerty joins us to talk about the Music Therapy Academy and advocating through education.

Rachael has been recognized as a music therapist since 2001, has served as the president of the Music Therapy Association of Ontario from 2010-2014 and was the recipient of the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, for Healthcare in 2015. Rachael graduated from Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge, England) in 2001, with a Master Music Therapy and she began her graduate studies in Psychology, Neuroscience and behaviour in September 2019 with a research focus on the use of music therapy for proactive wellness. Rachael has experience working in both a hospital setting and private practice where she established over 30 music therapy programs in Ontario (across Durham Region, York Region, Niagara, Hamilton and Kitchener) and opened a music therapy studio (in Hamilton ON). Rachael brought 2 music therapy courses to McMaster University in 2010 and currently educates over 3000 students each academic year about music therapy.

Her focus began to shift from clinical work to education, mentorship and supervision. To provide further education to the community and healthcare professionals Rachael founded the Music Therapy Academy. We had a beautiful chat with Rachael about this journey, the story behind the academy, and all the great work she is currently doing.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (⁠@ablevoicepodcast⁠ or⁠ @synergymusictherapy⁠) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on⁠ Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette)⁠.

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (⁠@immvproductions⁠)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850⁠

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (⁠@mtahayley⁠) and Kimberly Dolan (⁠@mta.kimberly⁠). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit⁠ www.synergymusictherapy.com⁠.

In this episode, Katie Zaccardi joins us to talk about being a financially stable musician, tips and tricks to managing finances, and reducing shame around the money conversation.

Katie is a coach and educator for musicians, music teachers, and music coaches, helping them grow their business & bank accounts while ditching overwhelm, self-doubt, and burnout for good. After dedicating 10+ years of her life to the music industry as a student, indie artist, and music industry professional, and creating a life of freedom, abundance, & music for herself, she founded "Out to Be" to give music entrepreneurs the tools, support, & motivation to do the same.

Episode Links:

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (@ablevoicepodcast or @synergymusictherapy) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette).

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (@immvproductions)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (@mtahayley) and Kimberly Dolan (@mta.kimberly). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit www.synergymusictherapy.com.

We are excited to welcome Mary Meads and Trina Chakrabarti of Wellington Music Therapy Services to the podcast today! "Nothing about us without us" (Latin: Nihil de nobis, sine nobis) is a slogan used to communicate the idea that no policy should be decided by any representative without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by that policy. Mary and Trina discuss their passion for accessible advocacy and implementing the thread of equity within the workplace. 

Episode Links:

Sources for the reference to "Nothing about us without us":

Sources for the reference to "Therapy is Political":

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (@ablevoicepodcast or @synergymusictherapy) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette).

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (@immvproductions)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (@mtahayley) and Kimberly Dolan (@mta.kimberly). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit www.synergymusictherapy.com.

We are excited to welcome Pam Lansbergen and Alan Lee of the World Congress of Music Therapy planning committee to the podcast today! The upcoming congress is to be held in beautiful Vancouver, BC this July 2023. We’re grateful to Pam and Alan for stopping by the Able Voice Podcast to share a little bit more about what we can expect from the congress this year!

Learn more or Register for WCMT: https://www.wcmt2023.org/  (Note: Early bird registration ends February 28th, 2023)

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Subscribe to the Able Voice Podcast, leave us a review and connect with us (@ablevoicepodcast or @synergymusictherapy) to share your experiences and takeaways. We release new episodes every other Sunday between the end of January and end of August.

AVP Theme Music by: Christopher Mouchette. Follow him on Soundcloud (Chris Mouchette).

Episode edited by: Justis Krar (@immvproductions)

Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/able-voice-podcast/id1505215850

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The Able Voice Podcast is hosted by certified music therapists Hayley Francis Cann (@mtahayley) and Kimberly Dolan (@mta.kimberly). Get in touch with Hayley and/or Kim by emailing [email protected] or visit www.synergymusictherapy.com.