
Frequently Asked Questions
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Music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice that uses music interventions to support physical, emotional, cognitive, and social goals. I use instruments, singing, movement, and songwriting to help clients express themselves, build skills, and regulate emotions.
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Anyone can benefit, but I specialize in working with:
Neurodivergent children and teens (ADHD, autism, developmental differences)
Teens and young adults struggling with anxiety or emotional regulation
Families looking for creative ways to connect and support their child’s development
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Not at all! Music therapy is about expression and engagement, not performance. All sessions are tailored to the client’s comfort and needs. No prior music experience is ever required.
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My sessions are structured yet flexible, sensory-informed, and built around your or your child’s unique strengths. I often use visuals, predictable routines, and multi-sensory tools to create a safe and engaging space.
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Yes! I accept CMS insurance and the step up for student’s scholarship. Unfortunately, no other insurance companies in Florida will cover music therapy. I am always open to discussing alternative payment plans with you to find a way to make music therapy accessible!
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Most sessions are held in Miami in-home, at partner locations like schools or clinics, or virtually. For events, I travel throughout South Florida.
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I attended the university of Miami’s frost school of music and studied music therapy, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music. Throughout the training program, I participated in particum clinical placements in various settings such as hospice, early intervention, cancer care, and PPEC working with children with cerebral palsy and other medical conditions. After graduating, I completed a 6 month full time music therapy internship in an inpatient neurologic rehabilitation hospital. After completing my internship, I sat for my board exam and became board certified as a music therapist!
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Yes. Music therapy is a board-certified, evidence-based practice used in hospitals, schools, clinics, and mental health settings. It is backed by research in neurology, psychology, and developmental science.
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Music therapy uses rhythm, melody, and active music-making to support emotional, behavioral, and developmental goals. Unlike art or play therapy, it uniquely taps into the brain’s emotional and language centers through sound.
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Common instruments include guitar, piano, drums, shakers, tambourines, and the client’s own voice. Instruments are chosen based on therapeutic goals; not musical skill.
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Yes. I provide flexible options for in-home and online music therapy to accommodate different learning needs, sensory sensitivities, and family schedules.
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Yes. Music therapy is inherently nonverbal and highly effective for children who are non-speaking or minimally verbal. It supports connection and expression through sound and movement.
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guitar, piano, voice, and general music/music theory
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Yes! I offer interactive music birthday parties featuring sing-a-longs, bubble play, scarves, shakers, and instrument playing!
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Every child develops at their own pace, but there are a few signs that can help you know if your child is ready to start music lessons:
Interest in Music: Your child shows curiosity about instruments, singing, or dancing to music.
Ability to Focus: They can follow simple instructions and stay engaged in an activity for at least 10–15 minutes.
Fine Motor Readiness: They’re beginning to use their fingers with intention—like pressing piano keys, strumming, or tapping rhythms.
Emotional Readiness: They’re open to trying new things and can tolerate gentle correction or guidance.
Routine and Structure: Your child benefits from and enjoys structured activities with a beginning, middle, and end.
If your child isn’t quite ready for formal music lessons, music therapy or general music enrichment can be a wonderful foundation. These approaches focus on creativity, confidence, and skill-building in a playful, low-pressure environment.
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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but here’s a helpful guide:
Ages 0–3: This is a great time for music enrichment rather than formal lessons. Activities like singing, clapping, and instrument exploration help develop listening skills, rhythm, and early communication.
Ages 3–5: Many children are ready for early childhood music classes or music therapy. These focus on creativity, coordination, and learning through play. Some kids in this age group may begin simple private lessons if they show strong interest and attention.
Ages 5–7: This is a common age to begin more structured music lessons—like piano, voice, violin, or guitar—especially if your child can follow directions, practice regularly, and stay focused for 20–30 minutes.
Ages 8+: Most children at this stage are developmentally ready for full-length lessons, practice routines, and skill development.
Key factors aren’t just age—they include:
Interest in music
Ability to focus
Motor skills
Emotional readiness
If you’re not sure, a trial lesson or music-based assessment can help determine the best starting point for your child—whether it’s formal lessons, music therapy, or a fun introductory group class.
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Yes—collaboration is a core part of my approach. I regularly coordinate with speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), mental health counselors, behavior analysts (BCBAs), teachers, and other professionals to ensure your child receives holistic, consistent support across settings.
With your consent, I’m happy to:
Share progress updates and session summaries
Align goals and strategies with your existing team
Co-treat or schedule back-to-back sessions when appropriate
Participate in IEP meetings or team planning calls
Whether your child is in early intervention, receiving services through school, or working with a private team, I’m here to complement—not compete with—those efforts.
This kind of teamwork helps reinforce your child’s progress and creates a more unified path forward.
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my training and foundation is in neurologic music therapy, but my approach varies from client to client. I incorporate a holistic approach including improvisational music therapy, child-led, play based, and mindfulness.
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Music therapy works because music is one of the few activities that activates multiple regions of the brain at once—including areas responsible for language, emotion, movement, memory, and executive functioning. This makes it an incredibly powerful tool for therapeutic change.
🎵 Here’s how the brain responds to music in therapy:
Auditory + Motor Systems: Listening to rhythm and playing instruments stimulates motor planning and coordination—ideal for children working on movement or sensory integration.
Limbic System (Emotion Center): Music taps into deep emotional processing. This can help children and teens safely explore feelings, reduce anxiety, and build emotional regulation skills.
Prefrontal Cortex (Decision-Making + Focus): Engaging in structured music activities improves attention, impulse control, and executive functioning—especially important for individuals with ADHD or developmental differences.
Language Centers (Broca’s + Wernicke’s areas): Music and singing support speech, language development, and expressive communication, even in non-speaking or minimally verbal children.
Hippocampus (Memory + Learning): Music enhances memory and learning—making it effective for children needing repetition and structure to retain new skills.
🧠 Music is processed bilaterally across the brain.
Unlike many other therapies that target just one domain (like language or movement), music therapy integrates both hemispheres of the brain, creating stronger neural connections and increasing neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and grow.
🎧 Why this matters for therapy:
Because music is predictable yet flexible, it creates a safe structure where clients can:
Practice regulation
Strengthen communication pathways
Build new behavioral or emotional patterns in a neurologically supported way
have another question or want to learn more?
whether you’re just curious, or ready to try your first session, please feel free to reach out and I’ll be in touch!
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur dignissim neque metus, non porttitor purus cursus non. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Duis faucibus lacus sed nulla congue congue. Morbi a ligula lobortis, maximus orci in, egestas dui. Duis fringilla ut nunc vitae vulputate.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur dignissim neque metus, non porttitor purus cursus non. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Duis faucibus lacus sed nulla congue congue. Morbi a ligula lobortis, maximus orci in, egestas dui. Duis fringilla ut nunc vitae vulputate.