Austin Vocal Psychotherapy
Two-year postgraduate program for music therapists
Austin Vocal Psychotherapy (AVPT) is a vocally-oriented approach to music therapy developed by Dr. Diane Austin, predominantly used for persons who have experienced trauma. Techniques such as Vocal Holding and Free Associative Singing help establish a safe foundation, enabling the exploration of deeper emotional and psychological layers.
Het NIM offers a two-year postgraduate program for certified music therapists seeking to enhance their therapeutic skills. The program provides a comprehensive theoretical and experiential framework on the therapeutic potential of vocal improvision in music therapy. Upon succesful completition of the program, the participant is authorized to use the AVPT-credentials and is recognized as certified Austin Vocal Psychotherapist.
Central to the program are the use of breath, natural sounds, vocal improvisation, songs, and verbal dialogue within the therapeutic relationship. These elements facilitate both intrapsychic and interpersonal processes of change and growth. AVPT integrates core principles from depth psychology, trauma theory, and psychodrama with voice-centered music therapy.
The program is taught in English and is led by music therapist Nele Fiers, who completed the AVPT training under Dr. Diane Austin and is an AVPT-certified trainer. Dr. Diane Austin acts as a guest lecturer in the program.
The program is offered part-time. Each cohort participates in two residential weeks a year at Het Dominicanenklooster in Huissen (The Netherlands), where you are provided with a private room. Meals are included. This serene and supportive environment allows for an intensive integration of theory and practice through experiential methods. During the residential weeks, participants observe, engage, and lead multiple music therapy interventions in a small group of up to 10 participants.
In addition to the residential weeks, the program includes online seminars, group supervision, and individual supervision sessions. As the program places a strong emphasis on trauma, participants may experience personal impact. They are therefore expected to engage in learning therapy parallel to the program.
Training program content
This two-year program consists of a total of four residential weeks (monday – saturday), online seminars, group supervision, and individual supervision sessions. Topics include, among others:
- Theoretical frameworks from depth psychology, including psycho-analysis, and Jungian psychology;
- Trauma theory;
- Vocal interventions and their application with various target groups;
- Vocal Holding©, Free Associative Singing©, and additional vocal techniques;
- The role of breathing as a therapeutic instrument;
- Natural sounds and movement as a connecting factor between body and mind;
- A repertoire of improvisation exercises, sound and movement play, and song material;
- The therapeutic value of toning and chanting;
- Somatic experiencing;
- Therapeutic songwriting;
- Verbal interpretation and integration.
Program structure and accreditation
Program | Year 1 – 2027 | Year 2 – 2028 |
Residential weeks | Week 1:
Week 2: October 4 – October 9, 2027 | Week 1: April 17 – April 22, 2028
Week 2: November 6 – November 11, 2028 |
Online Seminars | 5 x 2 hours | 5 x 2 hours |
Group supervision | 5 x 2,5 hours 1 x 2 hours | 5 x 2,5 hours 1 x 2 hours |
1:1 supervision | 1 hour | 1 hour |
Total hours | 95,5 | 95,5 |
All online meetings are to be planned on Saterday afternoon (CET). The specific dates will be provided three months prior to the start of the training.
All participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the AVPT-program. For Dutch participants, accreditation for the Register Vaktherapie will be requested.
Requirements
The participant is required to:
- Hold a degree in music therapy (bachelor, master or equivalent).
- Have sufficient work experience as a music therapist.
- Have familiarity with psychodynamic theories, such as psychoanalysis and Jungian concepts.
- Have work experience or is trained in working with clients with trauma-related symptoms.
- Have piano skills that are sufficient to use the instrument for therapeutic accompaniment.
- Specify their experience with the voice, voice work and/or voice-based therapeutic techniques.
The participant is expected to:
- Organize individual learning therapy for the entire duration of the training. Please note that the AVPT program does not consider clinical supervision as learning therapy. Individual learning therapy is not included in the program fee.
- Actively participate in experiential voice-based processes during group sessions and the residential weeks.
Application and procedure
The participant must submit the following documents with their application:
- A curriculum vitae (in English), detailing their educational background and relevant experience as a music therapist.
- A motivational letter (in English, maximum 700 words), including a description of:
- Their experience with voice work, vocal practice and piano skills;
- Their experience with psychodynamic theory;
- Their experience with trauma-focused training and trauma-informed clinical work.
Please send your motivational letter and curriculum vitae to our program leader Nele Fiers via n.fiers@hetnim.nl. The program leader will review all submissions and will select potential participants in the program. Selected candidates will subsequently be invited for an individual online interview through Zoom. After all interviews have taken place, candidates will be informed whether they may enroll in the program.
All decisions on admission, non-admission, or placement on the waiting list are final for the cohort 2027–2028. No further explanation will be given regarding the decision.
Timeline from application to end
- Application period: December 2025 – May 2026
- Selection interviews: May – July 2026
- Admission announcement: October 2026
- Enrollment becomes final after (partial) payment and agreement to the terms and conditions of the program: November 2026
- Preparation (including finding a personal learning therapist): November 2026 – April 2027
- Start of the programme: 26 April 2027
- Duration of the programme: April 2027 – November 2028
Location for the residential weeks
All residential weeks take place at Het Dominicanenklooster in Huissen, The Netherlands. You will be provided with a private room at Het Dominicanenklooster. All meals are included.
Huissen is situated close to the city of Arnhem. As most cities in the Netherlands, Arnhem has excellent public transport connections, including a direct train connection to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Program fee and additional costs
The program fee for the 2027-2028 cohort is set at €5.500 per year (€11.000 for the full two-year program). This includes accommodation (private-room) and all meals during the residential weeks and supervision by the program leader.
Payment in instalments is possible upon consultation. Please take into a account that there may be additional costs for learning therapy and travel expenses that are not included in the program fee.
We provide a discount if:
Payment of one year in a single instalment: €250,- discount
Payment of both years in one instalment: €900,- discount
Terms and Conditions
Read the full terms and conditions here (opens in a new window).
About Het NIM
Het NIM is a Dutch non-profit organisation commited to offering high-quality training and professional development for music therapists. While we are based in the Netherlands and primarily serve Dutch-speaking regions, we also strive to contribute to the international music therapy community. We are therefore proud to announce that this two year Austin Vocal Psychotherapy program is internationally oriented and open to music therapists from abroad.
Additional information and questions
For inquiries about the contents of the AVPT program, please reach out to Nele Fiers via n.fiers@hetnim.nl.
For organisations questions, including program fees and admission, please reach out to Het NIM via post@hetnim.nl.