Tyler Reidy
Areas of Expertise
- Music Therapy and Psychotherapy
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Biography
I am a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) and Registered Psychotherapist (RP). I completed my Master of Music Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020 and have served as Contract Teaching Faculty since 2024, teaching and supervising students in Laurier’s BMT and MMT programs.
In addition to my teaching, I work as a hospital-based music therapist and psychotherapist at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), supporting patients and families through complex healthcare experiences across neonatal intensive care, inpatient pediatrics, pediatric oncology, palliative care, and geriatric mental health. I also have clinical experience in long-term care, group homes, schools, and community settings.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in flute performance and remain an active flutist and piccolo player. My musical background also includes harp, which I have incorporated into my clinical work, particularly in palliative care settings.
My clinical and research interests focus on the use of music therapy in neonatal care, including procedural support for infants during Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) exams and the role of music therapy in the care of infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). I am also interested in music- and leisure-based legacy-building practices in palliative care, often in collaboration with recreation therapy, as approaches to supporting meaning-making, connection, and memory-making for patients and families at end of life. Previous research has explored 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives within music therapy education.