“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11
When I think of my first week of internship, those words come to mind—I feel full of hope for my future as a music therapist, and more importantly, I see the bright future music therapy helps create for these awesome kids I have a chance to work with!
After four years of course work at UGA, the long-awaited music therapy internship has begun, and it still feels surreal to be in the real world of practicing music therapy. I am still stunned with how blessed and thankful I feel to be interning at Therabeat. People say that the transition out of college can be a trying time, but this past week has proven to be a smooth and wonderful experience. I have already learned so much from observing the amazing music therapists at Therabeat, as well as the other therapy disciplines that are all part of In Harmony Pediatrics. I’ve also been affirmed so many times this week that music therapy is such an incredible and viable field of therapy that is meaningful for so many kids!
In my first week, I’ve been absorbing so many lessons and approaches to music therapy from the Therabeat team. The thing that has stuck out the most to me so far is how individualized each session is for each child. Interventions are planned based on the personality and needs of each client, and catered to facilitate a healthy amount of success and challenges so that each child can grow to their potential. This has taught me an important lesson in session planning for each client, and how to be flexible in your session plans based on how clients come into the sessions.
I have also really enjoyed how the Therabeat team has been so eager to share their wealth of knowledge with me, and through this I am learning so much from every session I observe! The environment in the clinic is creative and full of joy—a great space to encourage and inspire a young intern to learn to be a competent and effective music therapist. As I reflect on my first week, I am super thankful for this incredible experience, and looking forward to 6 months of learning and growing into a well-rounded and educated therapist.
Designing the new website gave me an opportunity to look up articles I have written in the past! It's crazy to think this article, "Keep the Beat, the ABC's of Music Therapy", in the DSAA newsletter was written in 2007!
How did you learn your ABC’S? Most would say they learned their ABC’s “through singing the ABC song”. It is common knowledge that music can be an invaluable asset for teaching mental and/or physical skills to anyone of any age or ability. Simply stated, most individuals are motivated to learn through the use of music.
This principle serves as the springboard for Music Therapy. By definition, Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-base use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy training program—[American Music Therapy Association, 2005].
Music Therapy should not be confused with music education. Rather, it is a well planned treatment discipline that includes definite goals and objectives, encompassing the physical, psychological, social, communicative, and behavioral needs of the individual. Children and adults with Down Syndrome can be effectively treated through Music Therapy. Clinical sessions can be tailored to address all of the developmental domains: gross and fine motor skills, cognitive, adaptive, and social/emotional.
As with all therapy disciplines, each Music Therapy treatment plan should be customized to address the specific needs of each individual client. As a Music Therapist, I currently serve many children with Down syndrome. Sessions are never the same, and the music and activities are always different. However, I always strive to design treatment plans that integrate many of the principles of physical, occupational, and speech therapy in a format that is fun and productive for the client.
While most of my clients begin music therapy with a primary focus to increase developmental goals, in the end many of them find that their functional gains are also supplemented with the growth of new and unexpected outlets for creative expression. - Jennifer Walker Puckett, MT-BC,
Team Therabeat is excited to present "EARLY INTERVENTION TO ADOLESCENTS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!" at the Southeastern Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association in Columbia, SC. March 27, 2015.
the purpose of the session is to interactively provide interventions, strategies, and adaptations as used within early intervention and adolescent populations.
For more information go to http://www.ser-amta.org/
Canton Family Life Magazine
By Michelle Martin
For the many children with special needs and developmental delays in Cherokee County and surrounding areas, In Harmony Pediatric Therapy in Canton provides a safe, fun, professional environment that combines learning and play.
"Our goal is to work 'in harmony' with parents as they navigate with their children through the world of 'special needs,'" says Kristi Estes, co-owner of In Harmony Pediatric Therapy. "We feel it's important to reach children where they are to help them develop the skills they need, so we provide an interdisciplinary approach of proven therapy techniques using a variety of fun learning tools."