Advocacy

5 Years of the Social Media Advocacy Project: A Look Back

January 4, 2015
Thumbnail image for 5 Years of the Social Media Advocacy Project: A Look Back

January marks one of my favorite months of the year—the annual Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy project! The 2015 project marks a particularly special event. Not only are we celebrating this being the 5th annual Social Media Advocacy month, but it coincides with the much-anticipated launch of the Scope of Music Therapy Practice (2015) document […]

0 comments Read more…

5 Ways to Handle Misrepresentation of Music Therapy

June 11, 2014
Thumbnail image for 5 Ways to Handle Misrepresentation of Music Therapy

One of the most common complaints I hear from fellow music therapists relates to misrepresentation—that is, when a person, company, or media piece advertises “music therapy” when none exists (well, there may be music involved, but not music therapy as provided by a qualified professional trained with the rigorous competency standards of board certified music […]

1 comment Read more…

[#MTAdvocacy Press Release] Setting the Record Straight: What Music Therapy Is and Is Not

January 30, 2014
Thumbnail image for [#MTAdvocacy Press Release] Setting the Record Straight: What Music Therapy Is and Is Not

Last fall, I received an email Jennifer Peters, a Communications Intern for the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Jennifer was working on a press release about music therapy and asked if I’d be willing to help distribute the release. She sent it to me this week and well…it fits quite nicely with this month’s Social […]

2 comments Read more…

#MTAdvocacy: What We Are

January 23, 2014
Thumbnail image for #MTAdvocacy: What We Are

The second definition for “identity” in the Merriam Webster dictionary reads: the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different than others. This month marks the 4th annual Social Media Advocacy month, a project whereby music therapy bloggers, podcasters, tweeters, Instagramers, and Facebook users flood the online airwaves with articles, likes, and shares […]

4 comments Read more…

[Guest Post] We Are…MUSIC THERAPISTS!

January 16, 2014
Thumbnail image for [Guest Post] We Are…MUSIC THERAPISTS!

When I started my career as a music therapist in 1983, it was not uncommon for me to describe my profession by comparing it to other professions which were more well-known. If people gave me a puzzled look after I proudly stated, “I use music to change behaviors,” I would add, “Music therapy is like […]

0 comments Read more…

[Guest Post] Welcome to 2014: Declaring Our Independence

January 9, 2014
Thumbnail image for [Guest Post] Welcome to 2014: Declaring Our Independence

January is Social Media Advocacy Month for the music therapy community. This year’s theme is “We are…” so join us as we celebrate our identity as a distinct and unique profession! This week I invite you to read what my fellow CBMT colleague and friend Dr. Dena Register has to say about declaring our independence […]

0 comments Read more…

2014 Social Media Advocacy Month Kickoff

January 2, 2014
Thumbnail image for 2014 Social Media Advocacy Month Kickoff

Today marks the start of one of my favorite times of year: it’s Social Media Advocacy Month! For the past 4 years, music therapy bloggers and podcasters have banded together throughout the month of January to talk, write, question, share, and advocate for music therapy. This project is part of the collaborative AMTA/CBMT State Recognition […]

0 comments Read more…

What to Do When Your Profession is Dissed

August 29, 2013
Thumbnail image for What to Do When Your Profession is Dissed

I love music therapy. I am fascinated with the science of it, the art of it, and the humanity of it. It’s intellectually and emotionally challenging and rewarding. I have chosen to make music therapy my life’s work. No matter what particular “job” I may be doing—Regulatory Affairs Associate, PhD student, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Clinician, […]

4 comments Read more…

Highlights from GLR’s 2013 Music Therapy Conference

April 13, 2013
Thumbnail image for Highlights from GLR’s 2013 Music Therapy Conference

Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the 2013 music therapy conference for the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The GLR includes music therapists from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan and is the second largest region population-wise in the US (the largest being the Mid-Atlantic […]

3 comments Read more…