Paul Dickson Music Therapy

29/05/2026

My new website is live! 🎵

As a Music Therapist, I help people connect, heal, and grow through the power of music. Whether you're curious about music therapy, looking for support for yourself or a loved one, or simply want to learn more about what I do, I'd be grateful if you'd take a look and share it with others.

Music Therapy can support children, young people and adults of all abilities to communicate, express themselves, regulate emotions, feel more connected and work towards emotional and physical wellbeing goals.

26/05/2026

Goodbye songs are an important part of music therapy sessions for children and people with intellectual disabilities because they help create a calm, predictable, and supportive ending to the session. Using the same goodbye song regularly can help participants understand that the session is coming to an end, making transitions feel safer and less stressful. Music provides structure and routine, which can be especially beneficial for individuals who may experience anxiety around change or difficulty with communication and emotional regulation.

In music therapy, goodbye songs are often designed to encourage participation, connection, and self expression. Simple lyrics, repeated phrases, and familiar melodies allow participants to join in through singing, movement, signing, eye contact, instrument playing, or vocal sounds at their own level. These songs can also support communication skills, listening, turn taking, social interaction, memory, and emotional awareness in a natural and engaging way.

For children and people with intellectual disabilities, ending a session positively is just as important as beginning one. Goodbye songs can help reinforce relationships, celebrate achievements during the session, and create a sense of completion. Therapists may personalise songs by including participants’ names, favourite instruments, preferred musical styles, or gestures to increase engagement and strengthen connection. Over time, these musical routines can build confidence, trust, and familiarity within the therapeutic environment.

Music therapy uses music intentionally to support emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing, and goodbye songs are a simple but powerful example of how music can help people feel included, understood, and supported. Even a short closing song can create moments of joy, comfort, communication, and shared connection that continue beyond the session itself.

18/05/2026

If you have questions about Music Therapy, or you'd like to discuss the possibility of sessions with your neurodivergent child, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm really lucky to have access to this space in Neuro Bloom. It's such a great environment, packed with lots of opportunities for engagement and exploration.

Sensory spaces can completely transform music therapy sessions for neurodivergent children. When children feel safe, regulated, and free from sensory overwhelm, they’re often more able to engage, communicate, explore creativity, and build connection through music.

Simple adjustments like calming lighting, tactile resources, movement-friendly areas, and predictable sound environments can help create sessions that feel supportive rather than overstimulating. Music therapy is never one-size-fits-all, and sensory-informed spaces allow children to participate in ways that work best for them.

Creating the right environment can make all the difference.

09/05/2026

Someone asked for the chords to my Hello Song, so here you are! Words and chords will be in the comments 🎵

07/05/2026

Hello songs are often used in music therapy to support connection, communication, and the creation of a safe and predictable therapeutic space. Repetition, familiar melodies, and personalised musical interaction can help clients transition into the session and establish a sense of routine and security. For many clients, particularly those who benefit from structure and consistency, hello songs can support engagement and help strengthen the therapeutic relationship.

Hello songs may also support a range of therapeutic goals including turn taking, joint attention, eye contact, anticipation, emotional regulation, social interaction, self expression, and participation. Depending on the client’s needs and abilities, they can create opportunities for vocalisation, movement, improvisation, choice making, and musical interaction. The opening moments of a session are often important because they help set the tone for the therapeutic process and provide a clear beginning to the shared experience.

It is important to remember that hello songs are not used in every music therapy setting and they are not appropriate or beneficial for every client group. Music therapy is highly individualised and interventions are adapted according to each client’s needs, preferences, age, goals, sensory profile, and therapeutic context. While some clients respond positively to the familiarity and routine of a hello song, others may find it repetitive, unnecessary, or not clinically relevant to their goals.

With some clients, a different type of opening ritual may be more effective. This could include instrumental improvisation, grounding exercises, songwriting, listening activities, movement based interaction, free musical exploration, or simply beginning with conversation and rapport building. In some settings, particularly with adolescents, adults, mental health clients, or clients who may associate structured songs with educational environments, a more flexible and natural introduction to the session may feel more engaging and therapeutically appropriate.

05/05/2026

As a Music Therapist, my philosophy centres on seeing each person as an individual first. Even within a group, no two people experience the world in the same way, and no two people express themselves in the same way.

In my work, I pay close attention not only to what is said, but to everything else that is communicated. This might be through sound, movement, silence, or small changes in expression. When we take the time to really listen, people will show us what they need using whatever means are available to them.

It is not about expecting someone to fit into a structure or approach. It is about meeting them where they are, understanding their unique way of communicating, and creating a space where they can feel heard and supported.

This is at the heart of what I do every day, and it is something I believe applies far beyond therapy. When we truly listen, we create connection, understanding, and the possibility for meaningful change.

29/04/2026

I had the privilege of facilitating 2 group workshops for Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) today! I also got to participate in a Q&A with other creative therapists and facilitators.

The groups were made up of parents and representatives of organisations who are exploring how to emotionally support children.

Each group wrote a story from scratch and then musically narrated it. We then discussed some of the themes that appeared (resilience, self reliance, resourcefulness, freedom, friendship, strenth, overcoming obstacles and processing trauma).

One of the stories written was about a duck called Patsy who was struggling to get across a busy road. She was so hungry that she was willing to eat her chicken friend, Tracy. It all worked out in the end for her though, not so much for Tracy 🎶

The other was about a horse, who was captured while running on the beach but found that he was stronger than his captor and was able to break free.

27/04/2026

Hi, I'm Paul.

I'm a Music Therapist, using music to support people at every stage of life, improving wellbeing, communication and emotional health.

I am passionate about Music Therapy as an evidence-based, clinical intervention and the ability of music to provide inclusive environments where connection and growth can occur.

I love empowering the people that I work with, focusing on their strengths and personalities to encourage lasting change.

19/04/2026

What if we started from a different place… not “what can’t this person do?” but “what can they do?” 🤍

It’s so easy to let a diagnosis become the full story. Labels matter, they help people access support, understanding, and the right care. They can explain experiences that once felt confusing or isolating. But a diagnosis should never define the limits of someone’s potential.

Behind every label is a whole person with interests, strengths, creativity, humour, memories, and ways of communicating that might just look a little different.

When we assume someone can’t, we unintentionally close doors before they’ve even had the chance to try.

But when we begin with possibility, everything shifts.

Music therapy is a space built on that belief. It’s not about what someone struggles with, it’s about what they bring. A rhythm tapped on a drum, a melody hummed softly, choosing a song that reflects how they feel, or connecting with others through shared musical moments.

These are all forms of expression. All valid. All meaningful.

A resource-focused approach means we notice and build on what’s already there l, even if it’s small, even if it’s different from what we expect. Because creativity doesn’t follow one path, and communication isn’t limited to words.

Through music, people can explore identity beyond a diagnosis. They can experience success, connection, and self-expression in ways that feel natural and safe.

So yes, diagnoses are important. But they are just one part of the picture, not the whole canvas.

Let’s stay curious. Let’s stay open. And let’s start by assuming there is always more possible 🎶

16/04/2026

Music has a way of reaching places words sometimes can’t 🤍

For so many people over 65, life can change in ways that feel overwhelming — whether that’s coping with anxiety, adjusting to new routines, or navigating the deep loneliness that can come with bereavement. But something as simple and powerful as music can gently open doors again.

In our sessions, it’s not about being “musical” or having any experience — it’s about connection. It’s about sharing songs that hold memories, meaning, and emotion. A song from a first dance, a tune that played in the background of everyday life, or even something that brings comfort on a difficult day.

Through song sharing, people begin to tell their stories — sometimes for the first time. Group discussions naturally grow from these moments, creating space to reflect, remember, and feel heard. And in that shared space, something really special happens: people realise they’re not alone.

Social interaction becomes easier when it’s built around something familiar. Conversations flow more naturally. Laughter returns. Even the quietest voices begin to join in — whether that’s through humming along, tapping a rhythm, or simply being present with others.

Music therapy doesn’t “fix” loss or take anxiety away overnight. But it offers something incredibly important — comfort, understanding, and connection. It creates a sense of belonging again.

Because sometimes, healing starts with a single song 🎶

07/04/2026

“WOW, HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO THAT!?”

That’s what a parent said to their child during one of our home-based music therapy sessions.

I had been working 1:1 with this child and their mum, creating a space where they could express themselves freely and feel confident using their voice.

One day, I brought along a set of coloured hand bells. The child took them out of the box, carefully arranged them in order, and then—without any prompting—played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

Their mum’s jaw dropped.

I picked up my guitar and gently played along, supporting the melody and encouraging them to keep going. It became a shared musical moment, completely led by the child.

Moments like this are what our sessions often grow into.

We create opportunities to “perform”—whether that’s singing, playing an instrument, or simply sharing something they’ve created. I accompany on guitar, following their lead, supporting their confidence, and helping them feel heard.

And one of the most special parts?

At the end, the child would clap for themselves… or say “wow!”, recognising their own achievement.

That sense of pride.
That moment of self-recognition.
That voice saying, “I did that.”

This is what music therapy can nurture.

Not just musical ability—but confidence, self-expression, creativity, and a sense of identity.

Because sometimes, when a child is given the right space and support, they don’t just surprise others… they surprise themselves.