Ecological approaches to music therapy and autism

Dr Grace Thompson is a music therapist and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Grace has worked with children, young people and families for over 20 years within the early childhood intervention and special education sector. As part of her PhD research, Grace developed and evaluated a collaborative approach to music therapy practice with families guided by ecological theories and family-centred philosophy. Her research continues to explore the ways music therapists can foster relationships and social connection through participating in engaging and accessible music making. Grace is past president of the Australian Music Therapy Association and co-editor of the book “Music Therapy with Families: Therapeutic Approaches and Theoretical Perspectives”. She is currently an Associate Editor with the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy.