Is music therapy right for my child?

Many parents and carers are curious about music therapy but unsure if it’s the right fit for their child. In most cases, if your child responds to music – even in small ways – and you’re looking for support with things like communication, emotional regulation, social skills or confidence, then music therapy can be a helpful option to explore.

On this page, I’ll walk through when music therapy is likely to be a good fit, when it may not be the best first step on its own, and what it can look like in practice.

Who this page is for

This information is especially relevant if:

You’re a parent or carer of a child or young person (roughly preschool to late teens).
Your child is autistic, neurodivergent, or has a developmental delay or disability.
Your child lives with anxiety, emotional or behavioural challenges, or finds it hard to express themselves in words.
You’re supporting a child who already has NDIS funding, or you’re considering applying for it.

If you’re looking for information about adults or older adults, you may find my Autism & Music Therapy, Dementia & Older Adults, or Aged Care & Home Support pages more relevant.

How music therapy can support children

Music therapy can be adapted to many different needs and profiles. Some of the areas I commonly work on with children and young people include:

Communication and expression
- Finding ways to express choices, feelings and ideas through singing, rhythm, instruments or movement.
- Supporting speech goals in collaboration with speech pathologists (for example, using rhythm and melody to support timing, breath and articulation).
Emotional regulation
- Using music to notice and name feelings, and to practise calming, energising or “reset” strategies.
- Developing a predictable musical routine at the start and end of sessions to support transitions.
Social connection and relationships
- Shared music-making to build turn-taking, joint attention and shared enjoyment.
- Creating safe opportunities for playfulness, humour and connection with a trusted adult.
Cognitive and learning skills
- Supporting attention, sequencing, memory and planning using musical games and structured activities.
- Using rhythm and song to support routines, instructions and learning.
Confidence and sense of self
- Building on the child’s strengths and interests, and giving them opportunities to succeed and be heard.
- Helping them experience themselves as capable, creative and valued.

Music therapy doesn’t replace other supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy or psychology. Instead, it often sits alongside them as one part of a broader support plan.

Signs music therapy might be a good fit for your child

Music therapy may be worth exploring if you recognise some of the following:

Your child is drawn to music, songs, rhythm or movement – even if they don’t join in yet.
Your child finds talking about their feelings difficult, but may express themselves more freely through play or creative activities.
Transitions, changes in routine or sensory overload often lead to meltdowns, shutdowns or distress.
You’re looking for a therapy that feels less clinical and more playful, creative and enjoyable, while still being goal-focused.
Your child has tried other therapies but needs something different, or an additional space where they can just “be themselves”.
You’d like support that can involve you as a parent or carer, not just your child.

What does a music therapy session look like for a child?

Music therapy is very flexible and looks different for each child. Some examples of what we might do include:

Listening to preferred music together and using it as a starting point for connection, discussion or relaxation.
Singing familiar songs or creating new songs to support routines, vocabulary or self-expression.
Playing instruments (such as drums, percussion, keyboard or guitar) to work on turn-taking, impulse control, motor skills and shared attention.
Using movement, dance or simple actions to support body awareness, coordination and sensory regulation.
Creating quiet, predictable musical moments that support calming and winding down at the end of a session.

For more detail on the structure of sessions, you can read my What to Expect in a Music Therapy Session page.

Parents or carers are often involved, especially for younger children. For older children and teens, we might sometimes work one-on-one and sometimes include parents, depending on what feels most supportive.

Is music therapy suitable for autistic and neurodivergent children?

Many of the children I see are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent (for example ADHD or learning differences). Music therapy can be well suited to autistic and neurodivergent young people because:

It allows for non-verbal and alternative ways of communicating.
Sessions can be adapted to sensory needs – for example, volume, pacing and type of instruments.
Interests and “special interests” can be woven into the music we use.
Structure and predictability can be built into the session, with clear routines and signals.

My approach is neurodiversity-affirming. I don’t aim to “normalise” children or remove autistic traits; instead, I focus on supporting wellbeing, communication, regulation and quality of life in ways that respect who they are.

You can find more detail on my Autism & Music Therapy page.

How does music therapy fit with NDIS and other supports?

For children and young people who have NDIS funding, music therapy usually sits under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living when it is delivered by a Registered Music Therapist.

I commonly:

Work with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants across the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
Collaborate with parents and carers, support coordinators, teachers and other allied health professionals.
Provide reports or progress summaries when this is helpful for NDIS reviews and planning meetings.

If your child does not have NDIS funding, music therapy can also be accessed privately. On my Music Therapy Fees and NDIS & Funding pages, you’ll find more detail about fees, travel and how sessions can be funded.

How to decide if music therapy is right for your child

It can be hard to know from a website alone whether music therapy is the right next step. A few questions to reflect on:

Does my child respond to music in some way, even if it’s subtle?
Am I looking for a space that is supportive, creative and goal-focused, but not overly clinical?
Would it be helpful for my child to have an additional way to work on communication, regulation, confidence or connection?
Am I open to being involved in the process as a parent or carer?

If you’re still unsure after thinking about these questions, that’s completely okay. Part of my role is to help you work out whether music therapy is likely to be a useful support at this time.

How to get started

If you’d like to explore whether music therapy might be a good fit for your child, you’re very welcome to get in touch. I can:

Answer any questions you have about how sessions might look for your child.
Talk through how music therapy could sit alongside their existing supports.
Discuss options for funding, including NDIS and private payment.

You can contact me via my Contact page, and we can decide together on the best next steps.