Hannah Hayes

As a Music Therapist, I believe that the modality of music can often unlock some of our thoughts and feelings that we hold on to. This might be through music listening, improvisation, or the sharing of songs important to you in your life. I’m empathetic and warm in my approach, hearing and responding to the challenges that you might be experiencing in your life through the modality of music, though words are often used too, and sometimes, music can be a ‘way in’ to accessing our thoughts and feelings.

In my private practice at Camden Therapy, I work with individuals, parent-infant dyads, and groups. I offer a safe and trusting therapeutic space where parents and individuals feel that they can share their thoughts and feelings. The modality of music is used in sessions through either live-music-making with parents and their under-2s, or receptive music listening for individuals interested in Supportive Music and Imagery sessions.

Alongside my private practice, I work as a Music Therapist in the NHS at a Children’s Hospital and I specialise in Music Therapy work with children and families living alongside a health condition. I work with parents and pre-term babies on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

I had worked in central London schools for several years in a teaching capacity initially before working for the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to support children, young people, and families as a Music Therapist.

At Camden Therapy, I bring my breadth of experience with children and families to offer parent-infant Music Therapy, and Supportive Music and Imagery sessions.

Areas I work with

Music Therapy for you and your child (0-2)

I offer parent-infant sessions weekly for 6 – 12 weeks. I offer a free initial consultation before starting sessions. Sessions are tailored to meet yours and your baby’s individual needs. Music Therapist-led sessions support parent-infant bonding and healthy attachment. The sessions aim to be a musical space for you and your baby to be with one another and to share special musical moments. These sessions might be for you if you want a safe therapeutic space to bond with your baby using the modality of music. I draw on lullabies, ‘songs of kin’ (songs that are important to you and your family), and free-improvisation following your baby’s cues.

Babies are innately musical beings. Babies begin to hear sound and recognise your voice in utero from as early as 19 weeks. As pre-verbal beings, babies respond well to melody and sound. Babies like to follow and mirror interactions. They love the voices of those close to them such as their parents and caregivers, and this is how they begin to make sense of the world. There is a musical nature or ‘communicative musicality’ of how babies and parents coordinative their musicality.

Working with a Music Therapist can help to facilitate parent-infant interactions and promote bonding and attachment. Music Therapy can be particularly helpful to those that are finding the early stages of having a new born baby understandably complex in many ways, those that have experienced ‘baby blues’ or are going through postpartum depression. Music Therapy can support adopted infants and children to connect and bond with their parents.

I can help you to navigate this time sensitively and thoughtfully, supporting you to bond with your baby using sound and musical play. Music Therapy is also a space for you to relax and enjoy the playful and special moments with your baby.

Supportive Music and Imagery

I offer 6-10 sessions of Supportive Music and Imagery online or in-person at Camden Therapy.

I offer an assessment and short SMI experience in session 1.

These sessions use receptive music listening and imagery (art materials, or a creative modality of your choice). SMI sessions are suitable for those that lead a busy life and are wanting to finding some space and time within this. SMI can feel very grounding and relaxing and can lead to new insights.

You might be someone that is experiencing low mood, feeling stressed, feeling quite ‘stuck’ at the moment, and/or you are looking to establish a creative self-care practice.

I will work with you to create your musical library playlist.

About SMI

The client considers a positive resource in their week and the therapists guides the client to slow down to re-experience this moment. The sessions are 60-75 minutes (6-10 sessions) and are structured into the following sections: prelude, transition, induction, music/imagery, postlude.

The therapist guides the client through these session sections and is alongside them on their journey through music and imagery. The focus is on the “inner qualities of the imagery” rather than a “description of what the imagery is”.
Supportive Music and Imagery can be very transformative, meaningful, and offer new perspectives.

A piece of music is matched to the client’s inner resource. Together, therapist and client listen to the music allowing the experience to deepen whilst the client is creating imagery (art-making using oil pastels and paper, or materials of client’s choice).

This therapeutic intervention can be online or in-person.

Qualifications and Training

I am a fully registered clinical member and music therapy with the British Association of Music Therapy (BAMT).

The standard of my work is accredited by the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC).

I hold a Master’s Level with distinction in Music Therapy (Roehampton University of London).

In addition to my psychotherapeutic training, I hold a degree in Music from Royal Holloway University of London (BMus), I have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in Secondary and Primary Music Teaching and I have a certificate in Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI).

I participate in regular, ongoing clinical supervision and continuous CPD training to ensure that my clinical work and treatment planning meets high ethical standards to meet the diverse needs of my clients.