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Hello from the Eastern Mediterranean region, and a very happy new year to everyone! I hope, as always, that this year will bring more music therapy awareness and support in all eight regions. This update is focused on individuals who continue to be the only professionals in their countries of residence.KUWAITAs of September 2016, Kristal Foster (MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapist) has started a new position as Music Therapist at Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice (BACCH) in Kuwait. BACCH provides pediatric palliative care to children and families living in Kuwait. BACCH is the first, and only, country in the GCC that provides pediatric palliative services. Currently, Kristal is developing a Music Therapy program at BACCH that provides support for home visits, the BACCH clinic, community hospitals, respite weekends and bereavement. She plans to also collaborate with Kuwait Association for Children in Hospitals (KACCH) to develop a plan to implement music therapy services to hospitalized pediatrics.UAEWe now have a new enthusiastic music therapist in Dubai, Rosemary Henry, who brings her experience working in the UK and Far East. Marion Tennant, who was the first music therapist in the Arabian Gulf and the first Regional Liaison for the Eastern Mediterranean (2008-2011) decided to retire, and Rosemary will be the only music therapist in UAE from now on.In November 2016, Evangelia Papanikolaou, a Greek music psychotherapist and a GIM trainer, ran a 3-day intensive introductory seminar on the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. This was the first attempt to officially introduce this music psychotherapy approach in the region. Evangelia will return in April to present at the first MEPA (Middle East Psychological Association) Conference and Expo.BAHRAINIn 2016, there were several publications on music therapy in local press. Aksana Kavaliova-Moussi also presented during the “Untangle Autism” conference in April. This was the first time music therapy was officially represented at an international event in Bahrain. Aksana continues her private practice working with children and adolescents and works with the Online Conference for Music Therapy team preparing the 6th conference, which will take place on February 4th of this year. She also authored a chapter on the Arab/Middle Eastern culture for the upcoming book "Cultural Intersections in Music Therapy: Music, Health, and the Person” (being published by Barcelona Publishers in 2017).LEBANONRegional Liaison was in touch with Dr. Hamda Farhat, who developed a training course on therapeutic uses of music to prepare professionals from the field of music, music education, and psychology. According to Dr. Farhat, her students train for a period of two full years with practical experience in rehabilitative, health, and educational institutions.Aksana Kavaliova, BahrainWFMT Regional Liaison, Eastern Mediterranean
