Meet Asian Australian Registered Music Therapist & Coach, Priscilla Pek

We know that it's not always easy trying to work out which therapist we might like to work with: Because the decision isn't just about where they're located and when they're available, but there's a bit more of a human, relational element to the decision too.

So here at Shapes and Sounds, we want to help make that process just a little easier.

Every month, we'll be introducing a therapist from the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List to help you gain a bit more insight into who you feel might be a good fit for you or someone that you know.

This month we're excited to connect you with Priscilla Pek who is a Registered Music Therapist & Coach offering services in South East Melbourne, VIC (Mobile Service) and Telehealth Australia wide. We hope you enjoy connecting with Priscilla below!

~

1. What led you to choosing mental health as a career?

What led me here was experiencing the significance of music for my own coping and mental health when being an adolescent in the closet, and coming to terms with my sexuality as a 1st generation eldest daughter in a Catholic Chinese-Indonesian household. I truly believe that the music of t.A.t.u. (even though they we later discovered they were fake lesbians) and Tegan & Sara saved me.
 
I have also always been fascinated by the importance of identity for wellbeing, and how music can play such a significant role with this, especially during adolescence and young adulthood.

This led me to work with adolescents and young people experiencing mental ill health in the hospital and community healthcare settings. And as my career progressed, I started to work with adults in mental health, and realised my spark is ignited when supporting individuals to re-discover their own internal resources and ‘spark’ that enables them on their recovery journey, and towards living their most authentic, meaningful, and joyous lives.

2. What is your unique cultural heritage?

Chinese-Indonesian Australian. Born in Sydney, Australia.

3. What are your areas of specialty and what kind of frameworks do you work from?

Depression, Anxiety, Eating disorders and LGBTQIA+.

I’m all about supporting others to use and develop practical strategies, whether music-based or other (ie. Journalling, meditation etc.) to allow for grounding, mindfulness, building resilience, and creative and authentic self-expression.

I draw upon a humanistic framework, ACT (I’m looking to pursue formal training in this), and I also take into consideration spirituality.

4. What kind of clients are you best able to support?

Young people and adults who experience depression, anxiety, eating disorders and those who identify with diverse cultural and LGBTQIA+ communities.

5. If you could be your own therapist right now, what do you think you would say to yourself?

Your life is yours alone. And the most selfless thing you can do is learn to put yourself first. This is extremely difficult to do, especially when we try to navigate it within the conditioning and complexities of cultural, societal, or religious upbringing. But doing the inner work to be able to connect with our true authentic selves and re-discover clarity is worth. Especially once we realise that putting ourselves first and living our best lives means being our best selves for all of those around us. Boundaries are invitations for people to love us best, and vice versa.

~

Connect with Priscilla via our Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List HERE.

Alternatively, if you feel like Priscilla may be a good fit for someone that you know, be sure to forward this page on to them too. Let us continue to not only support ourselves but all those around us too!

If you require urgent assistance, please do not contact Priscilla or any of the practitioners on this list. Instead, please call emergency services on 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Shapes and Sounds does not recommend or endorse Priscilla or any of the practitioners listed on the Asian Australian Mental Health Practitioner List.

Please always consult your GP before making changes to your mental health care plan.