Online Music Psychotherapy
A music-centred and embodied approach to psychotherapy, with deep listening at its heart. I offer online music psychotherapy for adults and young people aged 16+, in the UK and internationally.
Music can offer embodied ways of exploring our inner experience, particularly when words alone don't seem enough.
My approach brings together psychotherapy, music, imagery, creativity, and a curiosity about what we experience in our bodies, emotions and relationships.
I currently have availability for new clients.
About Elien
Hello, I'm Elien (pronounced ai-leen), and my pronouns are she/her.
I am an HCPC-registered music psychotherapist based in Cambridge, UK, working online with clients in the UK and internationally.
I am a member of the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) and the Association for Music & Imagery (AMI).
From a young age I found purpose in music. First as a violinist and later as a music therapist, I discovered how music can create connections and bring compassion. In 2008 I graduated with a master’s degree in music therapy from LUCA School of Arts in Leuven, Belgium. I have further qualifications in Music and Imagery, a receptive method that focuses on the internal experiences of music listening, and my private practice is mainly rooted in this approach. Over the years I’ve experienced with clients how music can open ways to explore our emotions, navigate conflicts, and find meaning in our lives.
I enjoy improvisation, composition, and experimenting with electronic music in my personal time, and I bring that same sense of exploration and creativity into my sessions. My approach is music-centered, offering clients a space to engage with their inner world through sound. I believe that music can open pathways for personal growth, helping us uncover insight, move through challenges, and reconnect with what matters most.
In my work, I prioritise creating a safe, client-centered environment where relational trust is key. I value the diversity of our community and embrace the richness of different identities. I aim to create a respectful, inclusive space where each person feels truly heard and supported.
Music psychotherapy is a music-centred form of therapy that brings together music and the internal experiences that come up. It offers different ways of exploring our experiences that may be difficult to reach or express through words alone.
This means bringing your attention more fully to inner states — listening not only to music or words, but also to emotions, sensations, images, memories, silence, and to what happens between us.
There is no right or wrong way to engage, and you don't need any musical experience. We might listen together to recorded music that you or I have chosen. I may play music for you, or we might improvise and create music together. At other times, you may want to listen with your eyes closed and notice what arises internally.
Music can also open into other forms of expression. You might feel drawn to drawing, movement, imagery or simply talking about what you are experiencing. And sometimes we may not use music at all. Music is an invitation rather than a requirement. What we do grows out of what feels important and useful to you in that particular session.
Getting started
If you're curious about whether music psychotherapy might be right for you, you're very welcome to get in touch.
We can arrange an initial conversation to talk about what you are looking for, and how I work.
Sessions are £70 for 60 minutes.
Music Psychotherapy
Who I work with
Adults & Young People
I work with adults and young people aged 16+ who are looking for a space to explore and understand themselves more deeply, including experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
Diverse ways of experiencing
I welcome diverse ways of thinking, sensing, communicating and experiencing the world.
People come to therapy for many different reasons. You may be experiencing anxiety, depression, overwhelm, grief or trauma, going through a period of change, struggling in relationships, or exploring questions around identity. You may also simply have a sense of feeling stuck or disconnected from yourself, without knowing exactly why.
Working together
I usually work with people over a longer period of time, giving us time to explore what emerges at your own pace. Shorter-term work can also be possible when this feels more appropriate.
I currently have availability for new clients. You are welcome to contact me with questions or to arrange an initial conversation.
We can talk about what brings you to therapy and get a sense of whether working together feels right.
Online Psychotherapy
Creating a space at home
Online music psychotherapy takes place from your own home. This can make it easier to relax, settle in and fit sessions around your day. Being in a familiar space can also help you feel more comfortable, and some people find it easier to open up and connect with themselves when they are in their own environment.
What you'll need
It is helpful to have:
-
a laptop or tablet with a stable internet connection
-
a private space where you are unlikely to be disturbed
-
headphones (particularly for music listening)
-
paper or drawing materials if you would like to use them
-
anything else that helps you feel comfortable and settled
Privacy
Before we begin working together, we can also think about privacy, what to do if our internet connection is interrupted, and anything else you may need to make online sessions work well for you.
Get in touch
I currently have availability for new clients.
If you are interested in working together, have questions about music psychotherapy, or would simply like to find out whether it might be right for you, you are very welcome to get in touch.
You can contact me using the contact form on this website, or [click here to email me directly].