by Calsey Schroeder

EduExcellence is a private school implementing a unique approach based on educational neuroscience. This approach takes place through individualised learning within a therapeutic environment. The school assists learners from a variety of backgrounds and profiles that include but are not limited to SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities), general learning disabilities, behavioural and mental health challenges as well as those who prefer private education within a small setting. EduExcellence currently has campuses in Lynnwood (Pretoria), Rondebosch and Noordhoek (Cape Town). They are registered to accommodate grade R to 12 learners through an integrated CAPS (Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements) curriculum and allow learners to successfully complete mainstream education. They also have a skills centre for learners who are not able to function in mainstream education but can learn and obtain skills for daily functioning and possible job opportunities after school.
EduExcellence Lynnwood’s therapy department consists of two counselling positions, one of which opened up at the beginning of 2023. I applied for the counselling position as an Arts Therapist and received the job opportunity specifically as a music therapist within the counselling position! This is a full-time post with a fixed salary and fixed working hours from 06:50 to 15:00. The school’s openness to employ a music therapist full-time within a counselling position is a huge breakthrough for arts therapists, as there are currently limited full-time music therapy positions available.
“The school’s openness to employ a music therapist full-time within a counselling position is a huge breakthrough for arts therapists”
Advocating for this position included emphasising different aspects that fall within the music therapy profession and how it could relate to a general counselling position at a school. These aspects included report writing, session notes, feedback as part of a multidisciplinary team and the implementation of arts-based assessment and clinical techniques. Due to the nature of the position, the responsibilities require engagement with the broader school system as opposed to only conducting music therapy sessions. This includes parent meetings, fundraising initiatives, therapy department initiatives such as ‘de-stress days’ and all responsibilities pertaining to the SBST (School Based Support Team). This role also requires collaboration with other practitioners outside of the school, which allows the opportunity for more advocacy.
This has been an adjustment as I have had to learn how to articulate feedback on arts therapy approaches and techniques in a way other members of the team will understand.
The therapy schedule consists of eight groups per week as well as a minimum of six individual sessions as learners are referred. The clinical goals for the group sessions are determined with a focus on the broader needs of the group such as enhancing social interaction and connectedness, developing emotional regulation, exploring boundaries and more. The individual cases include trauma work, divorce support, self-harm/suicide, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, bullying, loss/grief work, and more. Both group and individual sessions include a variety of creative therapy techniques such as drum circles/instrumental and vocal improvisations, adapted guided imagery and music techniques, clay work, drawing/painting, free writing and more. The approach taken is determined by the need of the learner and can vary between a Nordoff Robbins approach to an Analytical Music Therapy approach. Feedback to teachers and other members of the SBST takes place weekly during panel sessions where all necessary components are discussed. This has been an adjustment as I have had to learn how to articulate feedback on arts therapy approaches and techniques in a way other members of the team will understand. We are learning as we go.
It has been an adjustment getting used to a full-time position and there are many new components to embrace. However, I have fallen in love with arts therapies all over again and it is such a privilege to do it full-time!

CALSEY SCHROEDER
Calsey is a HPCSA registered Music Therapist based in Lynnwood, Pretoria. She studied music and psychology at the North West University and continued to do her master’s in music therapy at the University of Pretoria. She’s currently working full time as a music therapist at a private school and continues to see clients in her private capacity as a therapist.