“Music therapy is a beautifully unique and incredibly fulfilling line of work. When creativity and compassion come together, it becomes a really powerful way to care for others.”
For Loghan Puhach, music has always been part of life, but today, it’s also how he helps others heal.
As a Certified Music Therapist working at Riverview Health Centre, Loghan uses music as a therapeutic tool to support patients. He meets people exactly where they are, and helps them reconnect with themselves and others in meaningful ways.
“Music is human,” Loghan explains. “And our work concerns all humans. A role as a music therapist involves using music to achieve non-musical goals across cognitive, communicative, emotional, social, behavioural, and spiritual domains. By synthesizing training in psychology, physiology, spirituality, and music, I’m able to lead therapeutic sessions which are individually tailored, accessible, and enjoyable in both one-on-one and in group formats. The impact of music therapy is profound.”
A typical day for Loghan is anything but typical. Day after day, he has the privilege of bearing witness to the “magic” of music therapy, whether that’s reaching someone with advanced dementia who hasn’t spoken nor connected with another for a while, or supporting a resident who is learning to communicate or move again after a brain injury.
His mornings often start in palliative care, accompanying patients through some of the most reflective moments of their lives through deeply meaningful music. From there, he may lead group sessions in long-term care focused on memory, working with physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists in neuro-rehabilitation.
He describes moments where someone with advanced dementia reconnects through a familiar song, or where intentional singing and synchronization helps improve breathing for someone in chronic respiratory care.
“Music therapy is often misunderstood, and there’s a misconception that it’s just entertainment,” he says. “But we assess, set goals, measure outcomes, and document progress, just like any other allied health profession.”
– Loghan puhach, certified Music Therapist
Originally torn between music and psychology, it wasn’t until Loghan learned about music therapy that everything clicked. After completing a six-year program at Canadian Mennonite University and a 1000-hour internship, right at Riverview, he found himself returning to the very place where his career had begun.
And there are moments that continue to confirm he made the right choice. One that stands out is facilitating music during a client’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) provision. After weeks of building trust and selecting meaningful songs together, Loghan had the honour of providing guiding music during their final moments, songs filled with memory and peace. What keeps him motivated is simple, yet powerful: the people.
“The shades of humanity I get to experience every day… knowing even a short session can have a tangible impact, that’s what drives me.”
Outside of work, Loghan nurtures his creativity, spending time learning new instruments, knitting, reading, and being out in nature. In addition to proficiency in piano, guitar and voice, Loghan has learned different world instruments over time as hobbies as well, including various flutes (bamboo flutes, Armenian duduk), different types of percussion instruments, and a Chinese violin called an erhu.
“The energy demands of my role can be challenging; both the physical energy required to lead a group and the emotional energy required to hold someone’s big feelings. I think that the meaningful nature of this work certainly helps with managing that demand, meaning, yes, there is an inherent sacrifice to devoting oneself to service and care, but out of that comes healing for another, which is incredibly life-giving.”
For anyone considering a career in music therapy, Loghan’s message is clear:
“Music therapy is a beautifully unique and incredibly fulfilling line of work. When creativity and compassion come together, it becomes a really powerful way to care for others.”
Left: Loghan and his grandmother, who they call Koko! (a childhood rendition of the word for grandmother in her language, Anishinaabemowin).
Right: Loghan on Sunset Beach in St. Laurent on Lake Manitoba.
