Elizabeth sits down with Andrea Green, the composer and playwright for "On the Other Side of the Fence" and Haley Shinn, Music Therapist to talk about the facilitation of this production and what inclusive musical theatre is really all about!

Elizabeth shares advice and ideas for providing groups in an adolescent behavioral health unit

Elizabeth sits down with Stephanie to talk about her new album, Made to Bloom

Head, hands, heart, humanity: The Creative Dementia Collective is taking a whole person, whole team approach to caring for those living with Dementia and their care partners. Using music therapy, art therapy, pet therapy, and Dementia Education specialists, they are empowering their clients to celebrate who they are, until the end of life. Dementia, dying, and grief can be difficult, but it can also be beautiful. Join us for a meaningful conversation with the whole team at the collective.

Elizabeth breaks down the many ways you can use Bear Paw Creek’s music and movement products!!

Elizabeth sits down with Claire Ghetti to discuss her journey to becoming a music therapy researcher and professor in Norway.

Today, we speak with JD Hogue, a statistician and music therapist, to discuss the relevance of effective data collection as a clinician.  JD shares how effective data collection and communication is crucial for advocacy and improving your practice. Guest Bio: JD Hogue is a statistician and board-certified music therapist with over 10 years’ experience combining data analysis, research, and program evaluation. JD has a Master of Science degree in Quantitative Psychology and another Master of Music degree in Music Therapy. He is also a consulting editor for Music Therapy Perspectives and has published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Psychology of Music, Journal of Social Psychology, and Intersection.

For today's music segment, Elizabeth will share a piggyback song that she wrote to support clients in identifying what safety looks and feels like in therapy.

To borrow the words of Chad Sugg: "Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year." This is a quote about autumn but it also speaks to what wellness means. It’s not something to be mastered but encouraged to try again, and again. Today’s wellness episode is going to include autumn inspired ideas and examples of how to be mindful, quiet, thoughtful and creative in your wellness this fall.

Happy fall ya’ll! The change of seasons is an opportunity for seasonally themed interventions so we’re honing in on Halloween and Harvest season. We always need to exercise our best clinical judgment on when it’s appropriate to use themed sessions. Some reasons why you might want to include themes are for reminiscence, orientation, increased engagement with novelty experiences, bringing changes to your session planning, and opportunities for introducing new and familiar music that you can’t use all year round.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! This week we are celebrating what it means to be differently abled and how music therapy can support the abilities and needs of those with Down Syndrome.

Ellisa shares 2 free interventions and original music to support goals of attention, crossing midline and sequencing- all using percussion rhythms! Strategic use of rhythm in music therapy is a necessary component of priming the brain and body to address a wide variety of executive or motor functions as well as adaptive lesson ideas.

Join us for a woodland walk (at home or on-the-go) as we explore a special forest with all of our senses to find renewed energy.

In this fun clinical segment, Elizabeth discusses the benefits of and uses for boomwhackers in a music therapy session. If you’re looking for some new ideas on how to use these versatile instruments, you’re in the right place!

Today Ellisa discusses literature on intergenerational music therapy. This kind of programming is the bringing together of multiple generations in a group music therapy setting. From cognitive stimulation, to physical function to social connections, music can bridge the gaps and make a common ground for amazing intergenerational experiences.

"Whatever you are doing today, matters." - Tara MCConnell, MT-BC is bringing us a message of encouragement, community and hope reflected not only in the music therapy work being done through Sophie's Place but also for music therapists everywhere. Tara McConnell is the Executive Director of McConnell Music Therapy Services, Inc., serving the greater Sacramento, CA area since 2002. A 1995 graduate of University of the Pacific, Tara is a passionate advocate for Music Therapy, serving on the CA state task force for many years and receiving AMTA's "Changemaker Award" for Music Therapy Advocacy in 2015. She thrives by encouraging and mentoring her team, supporting new professionals, providing consultation for music therapy business owners, and creating new programs. Tara's agency employs 9 music therapists and serves multiple medical, psychiatric and rehabilitation hospital settings, special education programs, and private clients. In 2016, Tara's team helped to open the 2nd Sophie's Place, a pediatric music therapy studio, built within the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento's Children's Center. She believes in the power of music to transform people and communities and is a lifelong advocate for innovation in the arts and medicine.

Music is among one of the most utilized forms of auditory input in our society. Music is present at weddings, funerals, in the office, at the grocery store, and in our cars and homes. Music is everywhere…let’s take a moment and bring our focus to just that…music!

Elizabeth reads a children's story for our wellness segment.

In his book Defining Music Therapy (1998), Kenneth Bruscia outlined 4 main methods for music therapy practice: receptive, re-creative, improvisation, and composition. Of these methods, perhaps the most overlooked is receptive. Ellisa calls on the literature, taking a closer look at clinical applications and philosophy of the receptive method within music therapy. 

Ellisa sits down with Emily Pivovarnik MM, MT-BC, NICU-MT to discuss music therapy in a children’s hospital and her research and writing on work in neonatal intensive care.