In-Person and Virtual | 2380 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 8C, Mississauga, ON
About Sonja
Sonja is a Certified Music Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), and Music Instructor for children and adolescents. Sonja earned her Master of Music Therapy degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she also obtained her Bachelor of Music Therapy degree with a minor in Psychology. Additionally, Sonja received her Neurologic Music Therapy certificate after completing her training with the Neurologic Music Therapy Academy back in 2020. Sonja also received a certificate after completing ASIST training (Assisted Suicide Intervention Skills Training) in April 2023 and completed a DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) Skills course to further enhance her ability in helping clients address issues in the therapeutic space.
Sonja has been musical all her life and started singing at a young age. Sonja participated in Serbian folklore for 15 years and was also involved in various choirs during high school. She always appreciated the sense of community and collaboration that choir would bring. In more recent years, Sonja has expanded her use of the guitar, and primarily uses voice and guitar in music-centered music therapy sessions. Sonja is bilingual and can facilitate sessions in both English and Serbian.
Working with Sonja
Sonja takes a humanistic, client-centered, and resource-oriented approach when working with each of her clients. She motivates clients to use their existing strengths to achieve positive growth and change, and utilizes a variety of musical and traditional talk-based therapeutic interventions to help meet the needs of her clients as well as their families. Sonja believes in the benefits that a warm, compassionate, and non-judgemental therapeutic presence can have for clients to feel safe enough to express emotions, work through conflicts, improve relationships, and experience mastery.
Experience: Sonja began working as a Music Therapist in early 2021, after completing her 1000-hour internship in a Toronto-based pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the winter of 2020. Sonja has also worked in other healthcare and home-based settings, including private practice with children, adolescents, and adults on the Autism Spectrum, community mental health programs, group homes, violence against women shelters, long-term care, retirement homes, adult day programs, and palliative/oncology care in hospital.
Additionally, Sonja enjoys teaching adapted and “traditional” music lessons for children and adolescents looking to learn guitar and/or piano. Sonja has also facilitated music classes and/or music therapy sessions for early childhood development goals with infants or toddlers with caregivers.
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Client Focuses: Children, Adolescents, Adults, Older Adults, Individuals, Families
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Types of therapy: Music Psychotherapy, Music Therapy, Music-Centered Music Therapy, aspects from DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy), Resource-Oriented, Culture-Informed, Client-Centered
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Common Issues/ Diagnoses: Autism, ADHD, ADD, Developmental Disabilities, Medically Fragile/Complex, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Alzheimer’s/Dementia + Mental Health Diagnoses, Anxiety/Depression, Confidence and Self-Esteem, Family Relationships, Stress Management, Life Transitions & Adjustment to Change, Palliative Care​
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More than just my work!
Favourite Quote?
"It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us” – Stephen R. Covey
What brings you a sense of ease?
"Friends, long walks in nature, singing, and learning about new things.”
Something fun or interesting!
“I have a huge collection of scented candles and one of my favourite scents is lavender!”