About
Valerie is an MA Music Therapy graduate with clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults and elderly across settings such as Community Mental Health, Hospital and Special Education settings.
During her clinical placement training, she has facilitated both individual and group music therapy sessions that support various aspects of human development, including emotional regulation and self-expression, mood enhancement and support, social connection, communication and engagement, as well as speech stimulation and rehabilitation.
Her therapeutic approach is grounded in person-centred principles, with an emphasis on creating safe spaces where clients can express themselves authentically through music. She is adaptable and flexible, working well with multiple populations in various settings.
In addition, Valerie has strong interests in youth mental health. Her Master's thesis research explored music listening preferences and the healthiness of music listening habits, examining how these habits may supporting emotional wellbeing among Singaporean youth, as well as how music preferences can inform music therapists in providing more effective support.
As a musician, Valerie is a multi-instrumentalist with skills in violin, piano, guitar and voice, allowing her to draw from a diverse range of musical approaches in her work with clients. She also holds a degree in Linguistics with a minor in Psychology from Nanyang Technological University, which has equipped her with strong communication skills and a deep understanding of language, communication and human behaviour.
Valerie is committed to continually deepening her practice while creating accessible, meaningful, and empowering music-making experiences that foster connection and wellbeing across diverse communities.
Music therapy and Singaporean youth mental health: Exploring music listening preferences and healthiness of music listening habits
This study explores the music listening preferences and healthiness of music listening habits of Singaporean youth using the Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS).
The study examined the music listening duration of youths, their music preferences and briefly explored reasons behind them. It analysed the HUMS Healthy and Unhealthy scores to determine healthiness, and compared self-reported ratings of healthiness with HUMS scores.
A mixed-methods descriptive design was used and data was collected via an online survey, which included predominantly closed-ended and few open-ended questions. Fifteen participants aged 15–34 were recruited and categorised into four age groups: 15–19, 20–24, 25–29 and 30–34.
Results showed that music preferences of youths were largely scattered, with preferences suggesting some reflection of age group characteristics. Emotional engagement, lyrical meaning, and aesthetic appreciation were found to be common reasons for preferences. Music listening habits of Singaporean youth were found to be mostly healthy, based on the Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS), although youths were found to overall lack awareness for the healthiness of their music listening habits, particularly for unhealthy listening habits.
Findings overall highlight the impact music has on our lives and the lives of youths, particularly in a predominantly Asian society such as Singapore, and informs music therapists and their approach to working with youth in the mental health scene.
Performative music in practice showcase video
The showcase integrated songs that were meaningful to my clients, songs that I personally associated with them, as well as music created in response to my own experiences during placement. Through this process, I aimed to reflect not only on my musical growth, but also on the emotional and relational journey that has shaped my development as a music therapy student throughout the two years.
The video begins with me underwater, symbolising uncertainty and the unknown, as I still didn’t know what to expect at the beginning of placement. I was still trying to understand my role, expectations, while navigating the therapeutic process. As the musical journey begins here, this represented the beginning of the 'Musical Process', where emotions, reflections and experiences were still developing. The darker tones in both the visuals and music reflected feelings of hesitation, vulnerability, and emotional weight during the first half of the process, developing more intensely towards the middle stages of placement.
As the video progresses, the music and visuals gradually change alongside my reflections and experiences. Different songs were intentionally selected based on memories and interactions with clients, representing the 'Person(s)' element of music therapy practice. Rather than focusing only on myself, the showcase acknowledges the relationships formed with clients and the ways they influenced my musical and emotional responses throughout placement. Some songs reminded me of specific moments shared with clients, while others represented my own reflections and growth.
The evolving reflections in the video also reflect the changing 'Context' of my placement experiences, as the setting, main population demographic and needs, organisation structure and therapeutic approaches constantly changed. As I became more comfortable and reflective within these changing contexts, the music and visuals gradually became brighter and more hopeful.
Finally, the completed video journal itself represents the 'Musical Product'. By integrating music, visuals, reflections, and personal meaning, the final work became a cumulative representation of my placement journey. The video captures both the therapeutic process and personal meaning-making experience, demonstrating how music can communicate emotions and experiences that are often difficult to express through words alone.
Professional practice
Valerie's creative practice is grounded in person-centred approaches and centres on the use of live singing and playing of client-preferred music to facilitate engagement and discussions about themes relevant to clients, as well as improvisation and songwriting, to support emotional expression and connection.
Valerie's research interests focus on youth mental health, music listening behaviours and emotional regulation.
Cassandra Chng
Joanne Lau Pei Yng
Jeremy Nuyda Joson
Liu Huiyi
Joy Khau
Tan Jia Rou
