What is Therapeutic Rhythm Facilitation?
Rhythm has an extraordinary ability to bring people together. It can help us connect, communicate, regulate our emotions, and participate in ways that often reach beyond words alone. Therapeutic Rhythm Facilitation uses structured rhythm activities and group music-making to support connection, learning, wellbeing, resilience, and recovery. While informed by the rich percussion traditions of West Africa, the focus is not cultural instruction or musical performance. Rather, rhythm becomes a practical and engaging vehicle for participation, reflection, relationship-building, and personal growth.
My work is informed by years spent living and learning within traditional communities in Burkina Faso, ongoing collaboration with West African artists and cultural practitioners, and more than a decade facilitating rhythm-based programs in recovery, educational, and community settings throughout Victoria. Whether working in addiction recovery, mental health, education, disability services, or community settings, the emphasis remains the same: creating safe, inclusive, and meaningful experiences that support people to connect with themselves and with one another.
My work is informed by years spent living and learning within traditional communities in Burkina Faso, ongoing collaboration with West African artists and cultural practitioners, and more than a decade facilitating rhythm-based programs in recovery, educational, and community settings throughout Victoria. Whether working in addiction recovery, mental health, education, disability services, or community settings, the emphasis remains the same: creating safe, inclusive, and meaningful experiences that support people to connect with themselves and with one another.
Who We Work With
Programs have been delivered across a diverse range of settings, including:
- Alcohol and Other Drug services
- Residential detox and recovery programs
- Community mental health services
- Primary and secondary schools
- Specialist and alternative education settings
- Disability and all-abilities programs
- Community health organisations
- Local government initiatives
- Neighbourhood houses and community groups
Alcohol & Other Drug Recovery
Therapeutic rhythm programs for detox, residential recovery, day programs, and community-based recovery services.
Rhythm offers a unique pathway into connection, participation, and self-regulation for people navigating recovery. Sessions are designed to be accessible regardless of musical experience and can be adapted to suit participants at different stages of the recovery journey. Drawing on over a decade of experience facilitating within Victorian AOD services, sessions are delivered with an understanding of trauma-informed practice, group process, and the complexities of recovery environments.
Programs may support
"Djulz's passion and commitment to the optimal health and healing of our participants is second to none. Her sessions have a holistic nature and feel, as the vibrational frequency of the room rises with as many as ten different drummers from as many different backgrounds and situations fusing together in harmony as one community, if only for one hour. Djulz demonstrates a strong, focused commitment to being in service to people who are struggling with substance abuse."
~ Greg Jordan, Education and Activities Worker, Uniting Vic. Tas. Curran Place (Adult and Mother/Baby Unit)
Rhythm offers a unique pathway into connection, participation, and self-regulation for people navigating recovery. Sessions are designed to be accessible regardless of musical experience and can be adapted to suit participants at different stages of the recovery journey. Drawing on over a decade of experience facilitating within Victorian AOD services, sessions are delivered with an understanding of trauma-informed practice, group process, and the complexities of recovery environments.
Programs may support
- Emotional regulation and stress reduction
- Social connection and trust-building
- Group cohesion and healthy participation
- Confidence and self-expression
- Reflection and recovery-focused conversations
- Engagement with treatment programs
"Djulz's passion and commitment to the optimal health and healing of our participants is second to none. Her sessions have a holistic nature and feel, as the vibrational frequency of the room rises with as many as ten different drummers from as many different backgrounds and situations fusing together in harmony as one community, if only for one hour. Djulz demonstrates a strong, focused commitment to being in service to people who are struggling with substance abuse."
~ Greg Jordan, Education and Activities Worker, Uniting Vic. Tas. Curran Place (Adult and Mother/Baby Unit)
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Inclusive rhythm programs supporting wellbeing, resilience, and meaningful social connection.
Rhythm has a remarkable ability to engage people beyond words. Through structured group experiences, participants are invited into a shared process that encourages presence, creativity, participation, and connection. Sessions can be adapted for community mental health services, wellbeing programs, peer support groups, and therapeutic communities.
Programs may support
Rhythm has a remarkable ability to engage people beyond words. Through structured group experiences, participants are invited into a shared process that encourages presence, creativity, participation, and connection. Sessions can be adapted for community mental health services, wellbeing programs, peer support groups, and therapeutic communities.
Programs may support
- Emotional wellbeing
- Stress management
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Social connection
- Self-awareness
- Community participation
Education
Rhythm-based learning experiences supporting engagement, wellbeing, and social-emotional development.
Educational programs combine the excitement of ensemble drumming with structured learning outcomes that support both musical development and broader personal growth. Programs are available for primary schools, secondary schools, specialist settings, and teacher professional development.
Programs may support
"Djulz has been working with the students at Clifton Creek Primary School for most of 2021 and during that time has nurtured relationships of respect and trust, developing a sense of fun and confidence through drumming. It has been heartwarming to see some of our least confident students grown into confident risk takers, and other students who have been dealing with trauma release some of their feelings through the dununs. Djulz is so quickly in tune with the needs of individual students and adapts her program to bring out the very best in every child. A fantastic program!"
~ Sue Paul, Principal, Clifton Creek Primary School
Educational programs combine the excitement of ensemble drumming with structured learning outcomes that support both musical development and broader personal growth. Programs are available for primary schools, secondary schools, specialist settings, and teacher professional development.
Programs may support
- Social-emotional learning
- Emotional regulation
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Listening and communication skills
- Confidence and participation
- Cultural understanding and global perspectives
"Djulz has been working with the students at Clifton Creek Primary School for most of 2021 and during that time has nurtured relationships of respect and trust, developing a sense of fun and confidence through drumming. It has been heartwarming to see some of our least confident students grown into confident risk takers, and other students who have been dealing with trauma release some of their feelings through the dununs. Djulz is so quickly in tune with the needs of individual students and adapts her program to bring out the very best in every child. A fantastic program!"
~ Sue Paul, Principal, Clifton Creek Primary School
Communities & All-Abilities Programs
Accessible rhythm experiences that celebrate participation, connection, and community.
Community drumming creates opportunities for people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities to come together through shared musical experience. Sessions are designed to be inclusive, welcoming, and adaptable to the needs of each group.
Programs may support
Suitable for
Community drumming creates opportunities for people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities to come together through shared musical experience. Sessions are designed to be inclusive, welcoming, and adaptable to the needs of each group.
Programs may support
- Community connection
- Inclusion and belonging
- Confidence and participation
- Creative expression
- Intergenerational engagement
- Accessible music-making experiences
Suitable for
- Disability services
- Neighbourhood houses
- Community health organisations
- Festivals and events
- Community groups
- Senior programs
- Family and intergenerational programs