Joy in Harmony Brings Healing Through Music

Photo courtesy Joy in Harmony

Just north of Pittsburgh, in the quiet borough of Harmony, Ruby Sandham is pioneering a different approach to wellness—one musical note at a time. As the founder of Joy in Harmony, Sandham combines her expertise as a music therapist with her deep roots in the Greater Pittsburgh region to offer unique services that address everything from mental health and memory disorders to chronic pain management.

“I’ve always known that owning my own business was probably going to be the path for me,” said Sandham. She inherited her entrepreneurial spirit from her parents, who were both small business owners. Sandham grew up in Robinson Township but moved away to attend college. She returned to the area in 2021, first living in Cranberry Township and now residing in Harmony.

Though Joy in Harmony only launched in August 2024, the seeds were planted years earlier during Sandham’s undergraduate studies in music therapy. The timing of her venture was strategic. Following the birth of her first child in May 2023, Sandham left her position as a hospice music therapist with another company to create a career with the flexibility her growing family needed. Simultaneously, she completed her master’s degree in December, further cementing her credentials in the field.

What makes Joy in Harmony stand out in the North Hills wellness industry is its focus on adults and seniors—a niche that sets Sandham apart from other Pittsburgh-area music therapists, who primarily work with children facing developmental or behavioral challenges.

Services That Strike a Chord

The practice offers four distinct programs, each tailored to meet specific needs. The counseling-focused option integrates music into therapy sessions for those struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.

“Counseling with a music therapy focus is for any age, any musical ability,” said Sandham, dispelling the misconception that clients need prior musical experience to benefit from her therapy sessions.

For older adults with memory disorders like dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Songs and Stories Companionship Program provides structured musical engagement at a location convenient to her clients.

“That could be in their homes or in a care facility,” said Sandham. “I’ll go to them in whatever environment they’re most comfortable in.”

In addition to providing companionship and opportunities for engagement, the program offers additional benefits for patients with memory disorders.

“Music engages the whole brain and creates neurons that connect different parts of the brain together,” said Sandham. “It helps people remember things and do things they might not otherwise know or remember how to do.”

Her Leave a Legacy Program involves collaborative songwriting, allowing clients to process life-changing events or chronic illnesses through music creation, resulting in meaningful keepsakes for loved ones.

Finally, the Holistic Chronic Pain Treatment option offers non-pharmaceutical pain management through music-assisted breathing regulation and therapeutic distraction techniques.

Beyond individual services, Joy in Harmony contracts with medical facilities, hospitals, hospices, and community nonprofits across the Pittsburgh region. Current partnerships include Suncrest Hospice and Promise of Life Network.

No Instrument? No Problem.

Clients don’t need to worry about bringing their own instruments to their music therapy sessions with Sandham. She arrives with a comprehensive collection, including string instruments, keyboards and percussion.

While some services require Sandham to travel to clients—particularly those with chronic pain or memory disorders—she is currently working on securing an office space for counseling sessions. This will provide an option for clients who prefer to come to her and take advantage of more unique therapeutic instruments and materials.

Despite being new to the scene, Sandham has ambitious plans for Joy in Harmony.

“I would love to eventually hire other therapists to work with me and my clients,” she said. Her vision includes bringing on art therapists and other creative arts specialists while maintaining the core mission of holistic healing through creative expression.

Making Therapy Accessible

Currently operating on a private-pay model with sliding-scale fees based on income, Sandham’s approach prioritizes accessibility while allowing her to focus on client care rather than insurance paperwork. As a pre-licensed practicing counselor working toward her full LPC, she may explore insurance options in the future.

For North Hills residents who have found traditional approaches to pain management or mental health treatment ineffective, Joy in Harmony offers a refreshing alternative.

“Creative arts therapists require a lot of the same training and skill sets that talk therapy counselors get,” said Sandham. “It can be a way for people to connect and grow, even if traditional talk therapy hasn’t worked in the past.”

Sandham wants potential clients to know that musical talent is not a prerequisite for benefiting from music therapy.

“For most people, music is something that touches our hearts and souls,” she said. “So, anyone is able to tap into that power to make a positive change for themselves.”

Learn more about Joy in Harmony by visiting their website at joyinharmonypa.com.