Education:

• BM, Music Therapy, Concentration: Percussion Performance and Pedagogy, Ohio University

• Master’s Level courses towards completion of a Master’s of Social Work degree (MSW)

 

Certifications:

• MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified)

• Practitioner of Martial Arts and Self Defense for Women

• Certified Life Guard and Water Safety Instructor (WSI)

 

Experience:

• Clinical work with clients from all walks of life, specifically including expectant parents, Head Start preschoolers, music groups for grade schoolers with various levels of developments, MAR (Music Assisted Relaxation) with adolescents and adults, group and individual sessions for children (birth-17) and young adults (age 18-30).

• Expertise working with grief (including complicated grief such as suicide and miscarriage), at-risk youth, autism spectrum disorders, mental illness, and addiction in adolescents (12-17) and young adults (age 18-30), chronic pain and hospitalized adults.

• Facilitator of Drum Talk, Creator and Facilitator of Rhythm Jams (Registered Trademark)

 

Accomplishments:

• Frequent presenter/facilitator for the following organizations: Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Annual Conferences (GLR-AMTA), Colleges (Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio University, Arkansas State University), Defensive Concepts training, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation/National Suicide Prevention & Education Annual Conferences, and Arkansas YOUTH MOVE Annual Conferences

• Mentor to music therapy students in the Great Lakes Region of AMTA, including the “Professional MT-BC Guest Speaker” for the inaugural “Students Conference,” 2010 GLR-AMTA Conference.

• Creator and Administrator for “Music Therapists: The Silver Lining,” closed Facebook group for professional music therapists and interns.

• Obtained “Therapy Dog” certification with her Basset Hound, Chelsea, who often assists during client MT sessions.

• Percussion Instructor and Writer/Arranger for Marching Percussion, winning local, state and regional awards.

• Created a swim team for children with disabilities (mainly autism spectrum) and their “neurotypical” siblings and friends. Continues to teach swim lessons and coach swimmers of all ages and ability levels.