Music Therapy Family Advocacy

Do you or someone you know want Music Therapy services, but find that your insurance does not cover this therapy? Have you recently had to take a break due to financial hardships? Do you find that Music Therapy is out of your financial reach? If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, let us know! One of our music therapists, Haylee Smith, is our new Music Therapy Family Advocate. 

Haylee Says...

It is my commitment to help make music therapy services possible for those families that cannot afford music therapy services; insurance does not cover the cost, and those experiencing ANY hardships. In this position, I will research various types of funding sources for families and walk the families through the application process. It is my hope to make this process as smooth and quickly as possible. 

I am so excited to be able to advocate for families and help find funding for music therapy! If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about my services; ready to find funding for music therapy; or know of someone in need, please feel free to contact me via email at haylee@therabeat.com. 

I am looking forward to working with you!

Now Introducing...SHINE!

This post brings me a lot of joy to write! I have had the opportunity to be apart of the Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) program with Cobb/Douglas county now for 3 years. I have learned so much through this program. The therapists who work with BCW have an immense amount of invaluable experience. Through sessions and meetings with these therapists I have become a better therapist. The therapists knowledge of child development, milestones, diagnoses and treatment have taught me so much. I credit much of my knowledge to these wonderful people. I have learned how to better deliver progress of a session. I feel I can discuss treatment and goals with more conviction with my families. I feel the experience has been incredible to help me become more experienced and knowledgeable! 

Shine is an amazing opportunity to bring these individual families together. To use my knowledge of early intervention to help families bond with their children and aid with their skill development through music! This class will help caregivers better understand their child and development. It is themed for each month and will include many of the same interventions each week so that the children become familiar with the routine. Each class starts with the same hello song and ends with the same goodbye song. The predictability and routine of music aids with familiarity and provides structure. The class promotes social skills and aids in cognitive and communication development. It will help with learning turn-taking skills. I can’t promote this class enough! I look forward to having amazing turn out with this class! Please call today to register your child and don’t miss this amazing opportunity!

Finding Financial Resources for Your Child

Recently, we connected with Cobb & Douglas County Community Service Boards and found that they provide excellent care and resources to families and children with developmental disabilities. In addition to providing families with helpful resources throughout the community, they also provide financial assistance for group and individual music therapy services. Below is a basic outline of services provided by the CSB:

1.       Family Supports:

a.       Age: 3+

b.      Provides financial support to families who are on the Waiver planning list

c.       Seen as a service gap

2.       Community Access Group:

a.       Center or community based program

b.      Age: 18+

c.       Group setting of up to 10 individuals 1 staff

3.       Community Access Individual:

a.       Community based

b.      Age: 18+

c.       1 staff to 1 individual

4.       Community Living Supports

a.       Home based services

b.      1 staff to 1 individual

c.       Primarily teaches ADL’s

d.      Age:18+

5.       Supported Employment

a.       Age: 18+

b.      Focused on finding employment

c.       Starts with discovery of interests and abilities

Adaptive Music Lessons: Developing New Skills and Targeting Learning Difficulties

One of our very own music therapists, Anna Katheryn Duquette, was featured in Canton Life Magazine this month! This article explains the importance of knowing how your brain works when learning a new instrument. If you're a parent, read this! If you're a teacher, read this! We want to be a community who understands the best way our clients, students, and children learn, so that we can provide them with the support they need!

Final Blog Post (As an Intern!!)

It is surreal to be writing a final blog post of my internship at Therabeat! As I am sitting down to find the words to type, it is so hard to express and think about all the ways I’ve grown as a music therapist and as a person in the past 6 months. What I know is that my heart is so full of gratitude, because all of that progress is due to the amazing parents, patients, and therapists that I’ve had the opportunity to learn from in my time here.   

               When I first began looking for a place to do the internship, I sort of had the idea that anywhere I went would be great—I’m a blank slate and ready to learn what anyone can teach me. However, after being here, I realize how special this place is, and am aware that this experience is very unique! While interning here, I have had the opportunity to work with patients aging from 8 months-89, patients of varying abilities, and patients in a variety of settings including in clinic, in the school, in the home, and at a recovery center. In each case, an extremely skilled therapist from Therabeat was there to teach and guide me in ways that made me successful and confident in every situation. The lessons and input from these therapists allowed me to grow in therapeutic techniques and abilities on a daily basis. These lessons range from recognizing and addressing problem behaviors all the way to blowing bubbles effectively (yes, this is an important skill!! J).

               Not only did these therapists teach me how to become a more well-rounded, skilled therapists able incorporate a variety of techniques, but they also taught me so much more! These therapists create an atmosphere of integrity and honesty that promotes amazing relationships with the kiddos and parents. They share their passion and drive with everyone so naturally, and it livens up the clinic and allows meaningful therapy to really take place. These are lessons that these ladies probably didn’t realize they were teaching, but it has made an incredible impact on me as a therapist. They truly are the hands and feet of Christ in their work, and that has really allowed me to be a music therapist who loves what she does and who prays for strength and grace to provide the best therapy I can!

               So it has truly been a wonderful experience of growing and learning these past 6 months, and it is crazy for it to come to an end. Every child I’ve had the pleasure to work with has brought me so much joy and taught me many valuable lessons!! I love these kids, and I love this team of therapists, so I am beyond happy to get Board-Certified and start working here come January! J J

 

I am so thankful to the Therabeat Team for giving me the tools and confidence to start my adventure as professional music therapist!! Yay!

 

Love,

Perry Wright