Introducing Lucia Phelan as Team Leader for Mental Wellbeing and Fitness
Many of you know Miss Lucia, one of our Registered Music Therapists, but did you know she is passionate about all things concerning mental well being?
That’s why we have introduced a new and innovative role for Miss Lucia as Team Leader for Mental Wellbeing and Fitness at Music Beat Therapy Services.
In this blog, we want to share with you what Lucia will be doing in her new role, and just some of the support she will offer to families and staff at Music Beat Therapy Services.
But first, let’s introduce Lucia to those who don’t already know her.
Meet Lucia
Lucia Phelan is a mum and music therapist who completed a four year undergraduate degree in music therapy in Germany before travelling and eventually relocating here in Australia in 2010.
Since then Lucia has worked in a variety of settings and locations across Australia, and completed her training as a Neurologic Music Therapist.
Lucia joined the Music Beat Therapy team in 2019, where she lives and breathes her personal and professional philosophy that using a holistic approach for overall well being is greatly entwined with the mind, heart, and soul. Cue Lucia’s new role…
Mental Health First Aid
Lunch time conversations led to mental health discussions, potential action plans, ideas for professional and personal development, and then mental health first aid training.
Lucia and Music Beat Australia founder Dr Vicky Abad organised and completed an accredited 2-day Mental Health First Aid course with Natalie Jack from Mental Health First Aid Australia.
This Professional Development opportunity commenced at our new clinic in Clayfield and was opened to other music therapists in Brisbane.
Ms Kelsey, Ms Cassie, Ms Vicky and Ms Lucia were four of the ten participants who completed the course. They are now accredited Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs)!
Now, Lucia heads up our team as the Mental Wellbeing and Fitness team leader, and will be providing updates for staff and clients through newsletters, emails and events, to support greater mental health awareness and to ensure we all have opportunities for mental fitness.
This is because Lucia believes that looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health, that it is something we can build and practice, reframing how we think about mental health.
The importance of building mental fitness
The Resilience Agenda is an organisation that is helping people better understand what mental health means, and how to be mentally “fit” to cope in those times when life is hard, and we are feeling challenged.
The Resilience Agenda imagines a world where people are inspired to think of their mental fitness like their physical fitness.
This starts with reshaping our perception of mental health from a deficit or negative focus to one that is proactive in building a “well being buffer”.
While building mental fitness is important to everyone’s well being, this is especially important for our Registered Music Therapists as they can provide better care for our clients and families when they first care for themselves.
Lucia will provide regular email newsletters for the Music Beat Therapy team with practical tips, scientific articles about music therapy and mental health, resources to support services, and positive affirmations.
She will also organise peer group activities for the team including mental health walks and exercise to train our mental muscles.
Lucia will provide newsletters, blogs and social media content for our families to access as well and will be available to talk to Music Beat Therapy clients and families about any kind of mental health issues.
Please explore our website to learn more about our clinic-based and mobile music therapy programs in the areas of early childhood development, adults, disability, mental health, aged care and rehabilitation.
Call the Music Beat Therapy Services Team on 0415 441 341
For all Music Beat Therapy Services enquiries please email [email protected]