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

Team Therabeat Intervention Ideas to Share!

Oh what fun! That was my response after participating in the team Therabeat in-service on November 11th. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such talented, selfless, and creative therapists. The members of team Therabeat are these things and more. I believe nothing makes us happier than helping the children that we service. This was definitely displayed through the interventions that were presented during our intervention idea swap.

During this intervention swap the therapists and interns shared their developed interventions, manipulatives, and found resources that are used to target various goals and objectives that they are aiming to reach during sessions. Interventions and ideas shared targeted such areas as cognition, academic, and idea development; oral motor, fine motor, and gross motor skills; and communication and social skills. Some of these interventions were also fun and entertaining ideas developed around this season of the year and the holidays and famous icons such as Santa Claus and Thanksgiving Turkeys.

Check out a few of our holiday related ideas:

 

"Little Snowflake"
By: Laurie Berkner

(*To the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I'm a little snowflake, icy and round
I fall from the sky (and I don't make a sound)
When it's cold I'll stay all day and When it's warm I melt away-

"He'll be Coming Down the Chimney when he Comes"

He’ll be comin’ down the chimney when he comes, ho, ho, ho.
He’ll be comin’ down the chimney when he comes, ho, ho, ho.
He’ll be comin’ down the chimney, comin’ down the chimney,
he’ll be comin’ down the chimney when he comes, ho, ho, ho.

He’ll be flying with his reindeer when he comes. Where’s Rudolph?

We’ll leave him milk and cookies when he comes. Yum, yum!

Now, we better go to sleep so he will come. Snore, snore!

And we’ll all say Merry Christmas when he comes. Merry Christmas!

He’ll be sneezing down the chimney when he comes. Achoo!

He’ll be clapping down the chimney when he comes. Clap, clap!

He’ll be dancing around the chimney when he goes. Yahoo!

"Rudolph! Rudolph!"

Rudolph! Rudolph!
What will you do?
You can't guide Santa
If your nose is blue!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
You're such a silly fellow.
Who will know it's you
If your nose is yellow!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
Your way cannot be seen
Through the wintry weather
If your nose is green!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
Santa gave a wink.
But what will Santa think
If your nose is pink?

Rudolph! Rudolph!
It's time to fly at night
But you're quite a sight
Cause your nose is white!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
It's time to go to town
But Santa's wearing a frown
Cause your nose is brown!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
Santa has his sack.
But you're not ready
'Cause your nose is black!

Rudolph! Rudolph!
The children are in bed.
And now I know you're ready
'Cause your nose is red!

(*Have printed and laminated black and white Rudolph and different color dots for his nose.)

End of Internship

I cannot believe I’m at the end of my internship, but I can believe that this internship was the right one for me! It’s amazing to look back just 6 months ago and compare it to where I am now. To think about all I have learned over this time is astounding. I have absolutely grown as a music therapist under the guidance of these amazing music therapists at Therabeat and I am so grateful I was able to do my internship here. The type of training that is offered is invaluable. Not only did I have the opportunity to do music therapy with a variety of children from 1.5 years -18 years, but I was also able to work with adults at a rehabilitation center as well as with geriatric patients. On top of all that, I got to observe a variety of therapies at In Harmony including speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. This extensive range of experiences has allowed me to gain so many valuable tools to put in my music therapy toolbox, as Jen would say!

I feel prepared to be a real life music therapist and continue this journey, but how bittersweet it is to finish this internship. These amazing kids have truly taught me so much – not just about how to be a music therapist and what works and what doesn’t, but also what it really means to be a music therapist. They have taught me about life. Helping these kids achieve their goals while making music with them was just a blessing and I was honored to get to work with them and help them grow! But man, with as much preparation as this internship offers, saying goodbye to these wonderful kiddos was something I was not prepared for. I will miss every one of my kids more than I can put into words. All of them are so unique and so individual and kept me on my toes for sure, but I really thank each one of them for teaching me and helping me grow too! No matter where I go next, I will always remember my first music therapy clients fondly.

And Jen, Chelsea, Alison, Haylee, and Anna Katheryn, thank you to all of you for helping me improve my skills and making me feel like a part of the team! I had so much fun getting to know you all through this experience and I will miss you all too! Ugh goodbyes are hard, but it’s just because of how happy I am to have gotten to know the team and the clients here. I will be back to visit for sure, but until then, wishing everyone the best New Year and Merry Christmas!! 

 

Love,

Stephanie Schecter