posted 23rd September 2025
A Personal Reflection on Collaborative Rehabilitation
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend an open day at STEPS Rehabilitation, where I participated in an interactive teaching session led by neurologic music therapist Rebekah Keenan. It was a hands-on experience which included some singing, that gave me a real taste of how Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is used with inpatient clients at STEPS. What struck me most was Rebekah’s ability to guide us through music, creating a space where emotional connection was central. Rebekah explained that each NMT session is tailored to the client’s specific rehabilitation goals—whether that’s improving gait, enhancing speech, or supporting their psychological and emotional needs. By integrating music into therapy, clients become active participants in their recovery journey, experiencing:
• Empowerment through creative expression
• Positive reinforcement from rhythmic and melodic feedback
• Social connection that fosters trust and engagement
More recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Serenna Wagner, Director of This Inner Voice Music Therapy Ltd, whose work with clients recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is both clinically rigorous and deeply compassionate. Serenna shared how music therapy supports various aspects of recovery including cognitive rehabilitation and psychological healing. Serenna often works closely with speech and language therapists, tracking measurable outcomes and progress for their clients. This integrated approach ensures that therapy is not only creative but also clinically rigorous. Serenna touched on the topic of emotional accessibility and trust that music provides. Creating a safe space for clients to explore and express feelings they may struggle to articulate verbally. In fact, in some cases clients with traumatic brain injuries may only engage with a music therapist, finding emotional safety and connection through sound when other therapies feel overwhelming. Serenna’s passion for music therapy shone throughout the entire conversation and you could tell she could have talked all day about the therapy she loves. The meaningful impact it has on her clients and their families is apparent when reading her testimonials.
These two experiences have significantly broadened my understanding of NMT. I now better appreciate how music therapy
• Is a clinical, evidence-based approach that uses music to support rehabilitation following neurological trauma.
• Engages multiple brain regions —emotion, memory, motor function, and language.
• Can be tailored to support specific functional goals within the MDT
• Offers a unique therapeutic bond that promotes trust and emotional accessibility
• Delivers measurable outcomes when paired with clearly defined reporting timelines.
At Key Case Management, we believe in a collaborative approach to rehabilitation. Recognising the value of Neurologic Music Therapy allows us to be person-centred with our approach as well as make evidence backed recommendations for our client’s treatment.
For more information on the services provided by STEPs and This Inner Voice music therapy please find links to their websites below.
www.thisinnervoice.com
www.stepsrehabilitation.co.uk
# Neurologicmusictherapy #Neurorehab #BrainInjuryRecovery #MultidisciplinaryCare #STEPSRehabilitation #ThisInnerVoiceMusicTherapy #ProfessionalDevelopment #KeyCaseManagement
