Rachel Foxell

Clinical Services Manager & Bay of Plenty RCM
Registered Music Therapist
Auckland Regional Centre

Rachel is a Registered Music Therapist based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and became the Clinical Services Manager at Raukatauri in August 2023. Born in the UK and raised in Aotearoa, music has been a large part of Rachel’s life from a young age. Rachel briefly explored several classical instruments before falling in love with the flute, and eventually studied for a Bachelor of Performance Music at the University of Auckland. During her final year of undergraduate study, Rachel was privileged to work with a young boy with an acquired brain injury as his first teacher aide, and she was inspired by the power of singing, beat and movement as a motivator for him to learn, communicate, and connect with people around him.

Rachel studied a Master of Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne and graduated in 2009, working in Melbourne for a further 8 years before returning to Aotearoa with her young family in 2017. Rachel has experience working with people across the lifespan a variety of health, education, and community spaces, using music to meet each client’s goals in a meaningful and authentic way. She has a particular interest in facilitating group music therapy sessions where people of all ages and abilities can enrich their lives and connect with others through making music together. Most recently, Rachel has worked in special education and early childhood services with neurodiverse tamariki and rangatahi (children and young people), exploring self-expression, emotional regulation and engagement.

Rachel also loves reading, good coffee, nature walks, and finding an exciting new playground to explore with her two beautiful children.