Yasmin Kawar, MTA, RCT-C, is a Jordanian-Canadian music therapist and counselling therapist working in the K’jipuktuk (Halifax) area. Yasmin specializes in working with clients in addictions recovery, as well as persons impacted by trauma & abuse, addiction, and the criminal justice system. Her approach is anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, intersectional, and person-centered. Yasmin works to meet clients where they are in their life journey to collaboratively explore challenges, develop insights & resources, and creatively mobilize chaos into positive empowered change. Yasmin also serves as Secretary for the executive board of the Creative Arts in Psychotherapy Chapter for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Katelyn Wheaton holds a Bachelor of Music Therapy (BMT) from Acadia University (2018), completed her internship with Heartsparks Music Therapy (2019), and obtained her MTA credential from the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) in 2019. Originally from Sackville, New Brunswick, Katelyn now lives and practices music therapy in K’jipuktuk (Halifax), Nova Scotia. Katelyn thoughtfully plans new and fun musical activities to engage and connect with clients, and enjoys utilizing her flute in her music therapy practice. She thrives on learning songs across the decades, and sharing unique instruments. She has experience working with individuals across the lifespan, including those with dementia, mental health, physical and intellectual disabilities. She has also collaborated across interdisciplinary teams to meet client goals. She uses a person-centered philosophy, as she believes everyone has capacity to reach their full potential. Katelyn specializes in geriatrics, but is open to working with all ages!

Katelyn is currently the vice president of the Atlantic Association of Music Therapy (AAMT) board, and has served in the past as membership chair (2022-2024). She enjoys teaching students interested in the music therapy field, as well as teaching regular and adapted lessons for beginner voice, flute, ukulele, guitar, and piano. In her spare time she enjoys songwriting, calligraphy, and exploring Nova Scotia’s beautiful backyard!

Mia is a certified music therapist living and working in the Annapolis Valley. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Acadia University in 2017 and completed her internship with Key Music Therapy in Toronto. Mia now works as a music therapist at Dykeland Lodge (Windsor, NS), and as a subcontractor with Between the Mountains Music Therapy (Annapolis Valley, NS)  and the Music Therapy Centre (Toronto, ON). Mia works with individuals across the lifespan and her work is inspired by a person-centred approach. When not working Mia enjoys painting, cooking, and going on a long walk with her dog, Otto.

Zoë Strutt, MTA, NMT, originally from Kindersley, Saskatchewan, moved to Nova Scotia in 2013 to study percussion at Acadia University. Graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Music Performance (BM), she returned in 2018 to complete the Certificate of Music Therapy program (CMT). Zoë has been involved with the arts throughout her time in Nova Scotia, including musically directing and choreographing many successful musicals with Edelene Theater, playing an active role as percussion and clinician director for the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble, and joining multiple ensembles such as Nova Scotia's only Women's Ensemble, Glass Winds. Zoë is currently working as a Music Therapist throughout the Annapolis Valley with people of all ages.

Rebecca McDonald BMT, MTA, MT-BC is a music therapist who is currently practicing in Antigonish, NS. She is originally from Peterborough, Ontario but moved to Nova Scotia to pursue a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree at Acadia University. She completed her music therapy internship at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and after certification started a palliative care music therapy program at the same hospital which is currently funded for 6-months. Rebecca also has clinical experience working in nursing home settings as well as with individuals with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties. Within palliative care work, Rebecca is passionate about facilitating sessions with patients and their loved ones and providing opportunities for legacy work. Outside of her work, Rebecca also enjoys songwriting, reading, and spending time outdoors. 

Kimiko Suzuki is a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) currently located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia (located on Mi'kma'ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq nation). She received a BFA in Music Performance (Classical Viola specialization) from York University in 2014, a Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy from Concordia University in 2016,
MTA Certification from CAMT in 2016, and an MA in Creative Arts Therapies, Music Therapy Option from Concordia University in 2018. She has worked with clients of all ages and abilities to provide individual and group sessions, recreational programming, and community care, in addition to adapted music lessons. She received certificate training from Tina
Lackner in 2020 for “Treating Anxiety Using Play-Based Approaches, Yoga, Mindfulness & Meditation for Children & Families”.

Kimiko has been part of the Faculty at Acadia University for the School of Music’s BMT and CMT programs since 2022. Kimiko’s MA thesis research
focused on “Music-Centered Music Therapy Interventions with the Viola”. She has presented at the Canadian Association of Music Therapists
(CAMT) national conferences in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. She was a co-founding member of the Equity Advisory Council (EAC) to the CAMT in
2019, and she was Equity and Diversity Chair on the CAMT Board of Directors from 2021-2023.

Kimiko acted as a guest panelist for "Sound, Mind, and Body: The Healing Power of Music”, hosted by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in 2021. She

has studied viola with many prominent teachers, including Amalia Joanou-Canzoneri, Jacques Israelievitch, and Theresa Rudolph. Her chamber

group, the Grenadier String Quartet, was the resident string quartet for the Toronto Strings Composition Workshop at the Canadian Music Centre in
2020 and 2021. She has toured Canada with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (2011-2013) and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2014),
and she performed with the Chautauqua Institution Musical Festival Orchestra from 2011-2012.

For Rhonda, MTA, CMT, BMus, BMusEd, finding Music Therapy as a second career opened up a vast world of human connections and healing through music. A life long educator/learner, she spent over twenty years teaching mostly music in public school systems in Nova Scotia and Ontario. Her family
moved back to Nova Scotia in 2018. Rhonda became a certified Music Therapist in June 2023.
 

Rhonda is the owner of Set the Tone for the Love of Music, a private Music Therapy/Education practice in Halifax. She delights in the therapeutic relationships created through Music Therapy. She works with a wide variety of populations including; seniors living in long term care, people with developmental disabilities and youth/adults to support mental health and well-being.

Rhonda looks forward to working with fellow AAMT board members. She will be advocating for
all things Music Therapy in her new role as Public Education Chair for the Atlantic Association
for Music Therapy.

Nicole (she/her) is a certified music therapist currently located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her belief in the power of music, and her drive to dedicate her life’s work to supporting people struggling with mental health challenges, was sparked at a young age. These combined factors lead her to complete her Music Therapy degree at Acadia University in 2018. She went on to do her internship in long-term care and became accredited in 2020. After moving back home to Nova Scotia, and about 5 years of working as a music therapist in long-term care, Nicole decided to temporarily step back from working as a music therapist to prepare for her next steps. She plans to complete her Masters in Counselling in order to integrate music therapy and counselling therapy, and to shift gears into a mental health focused practice. At present, Nicole is excited to be supporting the Atlantic Music Therapy community by filling the role of the AAMT Ethics Chair.