A Music Therapist’s Journey: Social Work, Collaboration and Social Justice

Canadian Music Therapy

In this episode, we speak with Karie Rippin Bilger about her journey to becoming a music therapist and her return to school to study social work. Karie also shares more about her unique education and career path and how that benefits the people that she serves.

Here is a little more about Karie:

Karie is a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Music Therapist, originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, living in Guelph, Ontario. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy in 2001, and Master of Social Work in 2011, both from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Karie started the Music Therapy program at St. Joseph's Health Centre Guelph (SJHCG) in 2004 and worked as a music therapy clinician and pre-professional supervisor in Long Term Care, Complex Continuing Care, Palliative Care, and Adult Day Program settings. In 2015, her role expanded to include Clinical Leadership of Recreation and Music Therapies.

In 2021, Karie shifted away from music therapy clinical practice, and now works as a Community Responsive Behaviour Team Clinician with the Behavioural Supports Ontario program.

Karie has continuously been deeply involved in music therapy professional issues, contributing to a variety of projects, presenting at conferences, serving as Vice President of the Music Therapy Association of Ontario, and as Ethics Chair of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists. She continues to be an active member of CAMT's Ethics Committee and is the Vice President of the Board of Guelph Youth Singers.

When not working or volunteering, Karie loves to travel, spend time with friends and family, and to support her very creative daughter's various artistic pursuits.

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