Eliza Stubbs

About Me

Personal and Professional Identity

I studied opera at the University of Queensland before doing my Masters of Music Therapy, and have been performing musically and dramatically since then to explore my body and my mind, and to bring joy to my life.

Being in the community and making sure the people in my life feel loved, safe, and supported is so important to me. I believe empathy is how we connect to people, which is the key to the human condition. Being open, a safe space, advocating for what’s important, and being kind are the building blocks of what helps me form connections to others. I know now that I must balance this enthusiasm with boundaries, both personally and professionally, so as not to lose who I am while being available for others.

Professionally, I have had to trust myself and grow mostly on my own as I was the only registered music therapist in Central Queensland for 10 years.

The images displayed are the logos for my business as it has developed throughout the years. The first one was music notes stepping upwards, as I would work with my clients to step forwards and achieve their goals. I am registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association and must abide by their ethics and Regulatory Standards, so I first approached my work as clinically as possible. As I gained more experience, I realised that a more familiar approach would increase a sense of validation and empathy in my regional environment.

NOTE: Forgive the blurry pixels of the first two, I designed them myself in Paint!

There are lot of stereotypes around music therapy that make it difficult for me to be taken seriously as a professional. As such, I have become very good at advocating and marketing myself, my business, and music therapy. So, for my second logo I went with music in the brain, to balance the clinical and creative, in my new signature purple colour to be bold and confident and fun.

I opened my own office in 2022, a significantly proud moment in my life. A change of business name to solidify myself in the Central Queensland area and a new logo, incorporating my three colours to be even more fun, but also more fluid.

I now believe the role of a therapist is to use evidence-based practices to support, create a safe environment, and above all, to validate and empathise so the client can learn to trust themselves. My philosophy closely aligns with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, as I believe a therapist must provide a safe space of ‘possibilities’, and conduct themselves in a friendly, non-judgmental, open manner, for any participant to feel like they can approach their higher esteem and self-actualisation needs.

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My Professional Practice

Together, as a whole person, I aim to be receptive, reassuring, and responsive in every aspect of my life. My ADHD brain hyperfixated on learning about neurodivergence and mental health when I got diagnosed, which has improved my sense of self, my ability to connect with my clients, and allowed me to support my children and many of my friends as they navigate parenthood and their own lives.

My professional practice has grown to hold the values of empowering self-discovery with identity-affirming, strength-based programs, by building a safe and validating environment for my clients, and of course, maintaining a dedicated support system. I operate providing knowledge and support to not just my clients, but their supports and their environment.