I’m calling this my Summer of Self-Care, not because I had a lot of time to dedicate to self-care, but because I needed self-care more than ever…

Each music therapist has their own story to tell of how they entered the profession. And, each music therapist brings a unique combination of skills, talents, strengths, interests, and inspiration to their practice. In this interview, Ellen Whealton shares her remarkable journey into music therapy and how she incorporates wellness, meditation, imagery, and essential oils into her practice.

In this interview, Rachelle shares her expertise as a music therapist working with older adults. Along with challenges and rewards she experiences in her work, Rachelle discusses the beauty of an older adult’s unique relationship to music…

Take deep breath in. Exhale. The relationship between music and relaxation is one that remains important over our entire lifespan. The ability for music to create calm and provide something soothing to listen to and feel is an experience most of us are familiar with, and a valuable premise in music therapy. . .

Music as a metaphor for life is a common thread in my work as a music therapist. Though I often implement this practice with my clients, I recently had the opportunity to cultivate this concept outside of the clinical setting when I was invited to lead a 2-hour music therapy experience for a group of psychiatrists…

In this interview, Yasmine shares her knowledge of music psychotherapy along with her experiences in combining the art of psychotherapy with the power of music to help people with mental illnesses, grief, and homelessness…

Adolescents are one of the most important populations served by music therapists. A teenager’s relationship to music holds immense therapeutic value, but can also be a tricky one to navigate. I find my own work with adolescents to be both rewarding and challenging…

Despite how powerful and simple gratitude can be, it can also be easy to forget, especially in times when we need it most. When interwoven, music and gratitude can bring the beauty of life front and center, reminding us that in in any moment there is something to be grateful for…

The American Music Therapy Association’s 2014 National Conference is happening this week in Louisville, Kentucky. I will be presenting on Sunday morning at 9:15 am on essential self-care practices for music therapists working in mental health…

Music helps us celebrate our greatest moments in life, and soothes us through the worst. It joins us in the car, at the movies, in restaurants, at the gym, and in simple moments with loved ones. Music honors individuals, cultures, trends, love, heartache, friendship, pain, and humanity. Even inside of us, elements of music are…

I once worked with a client who said the song “Never Too Late” by Three Days Grace kept her from committing suicide. She said the song happened to play on her iPod at just the right moment to change her mind. When we listened to the song together, her sad eyes lit up and. . .