Case Study: Engaging Helene Through Music and Respect

– by Ben Segal

When I first met Helene, she was withdrawn and often left the room during group sessions. The format wasn’t resonating – but through gentle conversation, I learned she had been a professional dancer with a deep love for classical music, records, and musical theatre.

Seeing an opportunity to adapt, I shifted the next session’s focus and began with songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Helene stayed. When I sang a short rendition of Nessun Dorma, something clicked – a connection formed.

From that point on, she began dancing in her chair, smiling more, engaging fully, and even showing improved mobility. Each session now ends with her saying, “Thank you for coming.”

Helene’s story shows how personalised, empathetic engagement in arts in healthcare can unlock joy, trust, and therapeutic progress – especially when we honour a person’s creative identity and lived experience.