Music Therapy Options for Families

Every child and whānau comes to us with different hopes, interests, and ways of connecting. We offer flexible music therapy options for families across Porirua, Kāpiti, and the wider Wellington region. Whether your child thrives in a one-to-one setting or alongside family or friends, we adapt our approach to match their individual needs.

Ted plays the drum in the caravan

Our Service Offerings

We design every session around your child’s strengths, identity, and natural pace.

  • One-to-One Music Therapy:

    Individual sessions focus on your child’s specific goals. We use play-based engagement to build confidence, support big feelings, and navigate sensory needs safely.

  • Family Music Therapy:

    These sessions welcome parents, caregivers, or siblings into the music space together. Families build positive connections, share joy, and discover non-verbal ways to communicate, while caregivers learn practical musical tools to support their children at home.

  • Small Group Music Therapy:

    We periodically offer small play-based groups. These low-pressure groups help children build peer connections and social confidence together.

  • Adaptive Music Lessons:

    Tailored instrument learning (piano or guitar) for young people who need a flexible, personalised approach. These lessons offer a supportive next step after therapy or a welcoming alternative to traditional music lessons.

Little Musical Caravan inside front view with instrument cabinet on the right, pink and orange cushions and guitar hanging on left wall

Session Locations

To make therapy accessible, we offer sessions across several convenient settings:

  • Mana Therapy Hub: Our calm, dedicated space designed for focused 1:1 work and family therapy.

  • Kāpiti Studio: A peaceful local setting offering individual and family sessions for clients based on the Kāpiti Coast.

  • The Little Musical Caravan: Our cozy therapy room on wheels – bringing a secure, magical space directly to schools and community sites.

  • In Schools: When we can’t bring the caravan, we partner with local schools to deliver sessions inside familiar school spaces during the day.

  • Telehealth: Online sessions are available when in-person visits are not practical.

  • Community Settings: We partner with local groups like Āhuru Mōwai Trust to provide music therapy services to their communities.

Funding Pathways and Accessible Options

At Little Musical Caravan, we firmly believe that financial barriers should never stop a child from receiving support. We offer flexible pathways and help parents explore independent funding options:

  • Āhuru Mōwai Trust ‘Taster’ Sessions:

    We partner with Āhuru Mōwai Trust to offer subsidised 10-week ‘taster’ blocks for neurodivergent tamariki and children with additional needs. These short blocks allow families to experience our services and see if music therapy is a good fit.

  • Flexible Disability Funding:

    Music therapy can often be funded through Individualised Funding, Carer Support (Respite Funding), or the Child Disability Allowance. While we can not apply on your behalf, we can connect you with host providers who can guide you through the application process.

  • Grants & External Funding:

    Depending on your circumstances, charitable grants and local trusts may help cover costs if public funding is unavailable.

  • Sponsorships & Reduced-Fee Places:

    Thanks to generous donors, we occasionally offer sponsored places for short courses of music therapy. We also reserve a limited number of subsidised places each term for whānau requiring financial assistance.

Want to Learn More?

Choosing the right support takes time, and we want to help you make an informed choice. Explore these resources to learn more about our work:

Ready to Connect?

Whether you are ready to enrol or simply want to chat through your child’s unique needs, we are here to support you every step of the way.

  • Have questions first?

    Reach out to our friendly team to discuss session options, locations, or funding pathways.

  • Ready to register your child?

    Fill out our quick online form, and we will contact you to arrange the next steps.

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