About

Jaimie Terpstra MTA, MT-BC, BMT

As a board-certified music therapist, Jaimie supports individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds. Since becoming certified in 2023, her one-on-one work has focused on young children and pre-teens working toward goals related to speech, academics, mobility, emotional regulation, social skills, and attention. Jaimie’s approach is client-led, affirming, and strengths-based, while still entering each session with a thoughtful plan to support each person’s unique goals and needs. She brings over 10 years of experience working in a variety of settings with children and individuals with disabilities. Her passion for this work comes from a desire to support individuals and families in reaching their goals, foster healthy communities, and make music accessible, meaningful, and fun.

About Music Therapy

What is music therapy

Music therapy is a discipline in which Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) use music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being. Music therapists use music safely and ethically to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains.

Canadian Association of Music Therapists
September 2020

What does it mean to use music in therapy?

Music is the tool that music therapists use to support individualized goals. The outcomes of music therapy are not always musical; they may include physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, and personal growth goals.

Some examples of what this can look like include:

Speech and communication: Singing a song that frequently uses a specific sound (such as “la” to practice the pronunciation of the letter “L”) can support speech development.
Physical goals: Using an adaptive instrument around someone’s ankle while moving to music can provide rhythm and feedback to support walking with a steady stride.
Emotional expression: Writing lyrics to an original or familiar song can provide a creative way to express thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences.

How do I know music therapy is the right fit?

Music therapy may be a good fit if the individual is a young child who benefits from a play-based approach, uses music as a way to communicate, has a strong interest in music, or prefers creative expression over more traditional therapeutic approaches.

Music therapy can benefit people across the lifespan, from childhood through end-of-life care. While no musical experience or ability is required, individuals often benefit from having some openness or interest in engaging with music.

A strong therapeutic relationship between the individual and the music therapist is also an important part of the process. Finding a therapist and approach that feels like the right fit helps create a safe and supportive environment for growth.

Who can practice music therapy?

Individuals who have gone through proper training to achieve MTA status.

Completed a Bachelor or Graduate Certificate of Music Therapy at an accredited university (BMT)
Completed a 1000-hour internship
Passed the board certification exam (MT-BC)
Registered themselves with the governing board CAMT (MTA)
Maintains their MTA status with Continuing Education through CAMT

Bachelor of Music Therapy (BMT)

Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT-BC)

Music Therapist Accredited (MTA)

Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT)