Jennifer sat down with Rachel Rambach from the Guitars & Granola Bars Podcast to talk about her private practice, torticollis (a condition both of her sons had), and her work with Mental Health First Aid USA. Listen to her episode over at the Guitars & Granola Bars website.
We are excited to introduce you to Steve Tortora! Steve has a bachelor’s in music therapy from Montclair State University in New Jersey and is currently a provisional therapist with the CTMTS team, pending his board certification. He has experience working with a variety of clientele including: children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with varying levels of both mental and physical disorders. He has worked with people diagnosed with: Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, speech and visual impairments, and many more.
Get to know Steve TortoraQ: How long have you been in Connecticut?
A: With the exception of about four years of school, I’ve been in Connecticut my whole life.
Q: What brought you to music therapy?
A: I’ve always had an affinity for helping others, and I’ve been a musician for most of my life. Music therapy seemed like a good fit, so here we are.
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: Hire someone to tell me what I should do if I won the Lottery.
Q: What is your favorite part of this work?
A: I like how universal and flexible music is as a therapeutic medium. Music therapists can reach some people in ways that no other therapist can. It never ceases to amaze me some of the reactions that I’ve gotten since beginning this work.
Welcome to CTMTS, Steve! We are happy to have you on the team.
Please stop by to say hello! We’d love to meet you in person.
Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC is happy to announce that we are looking to add a board certified music therapist to our clinical team! The start date of this position will be immediate. This will be a .5 part time position anticipated to move to a full time/benefits eligible position by early winter.
This position is right for you if:
We are looking for a responsible and dynamic therapist to join our team, therefore this might not be the right position for you if you are looking to establish your own private practice right now, if you are not a good communicator via writing, email and phone, if you are not able to provide transportation between clients or willing to travel throughout your day or if you are not willing grow as a person or clinician.
Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC is an established private practice that serves children and adults with developmental and brain health needs in home, school, community, and nursing home settings throughout the state of Connecticut as well as in our Watertown, CT center.
We are seeking to provide an exciting and supportive work experience for a flexible, motivated, energetic, and talented clinician. Some equipment and instruments, clinical supervision and continuing education experiences will be provided. Along with a competitive pay rate, health insurance and other additional benefits are available to our full time employees.
Please view/download a complete job posting and application details here.
Please meet our newest staff member, Kristina Rowles. Kristina is a board certified music therapist who has a passion for serving people and enhancing a person’s well being through music. Kristina has experience working with a wide variety of people including children, adolescents, and elders in schools, hospitals, and retirement communities. Kristina’s clinical background includes working with elders living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury in adult day programs, assisted living and skilled nursing communities. She has also worked with people in end of life care. Kristina received her Bachelor’s of Music specializing in Music Therapy from Ohio University.
Q: How long have you been in Connecticut?
A: I have been living in Connecticut for almost 1 ½ years. I grew up in Findlay, OH and went to school at Ohio University. I completed my music therapy internship in Bar Harbor, ME and then moved to Connecticut shortly after.
Q: What brought you to music therapy?
A: Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember! From piano lessons, to singing in church and school choirs, to marching band I have always loved music. When I went to college I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I thought that I wanted to keep music as a hobby in my life. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted music to be a bigger part of my life. I didn’t want to teach or perform for the rest of my life so I found that music therapy was the right fit for me. Serving people is also an important part of who I am. I have both volunteered and worked for the Appalachia Service Project since I was in high school. It was through this organization that I became a person of service. I found that music therapy was a perfect way to combine my love of music and my love of serving others. I am able to help and serve people through music, and I couldn’t think of anything else I would rather do!
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: If I won the lottery I would travel the world! I love traveling and experiencing new cultures and foods! My list would definitely include Greece, Thailand, China, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and many more!
Q: What is your favorite part of being a music therapist?
A: My favorite part about being a music therapist is sharing music with others. There is something so wonderful and delicate about sharing music with an individual or group. It’s not something that can easily be described but everyone in that moment knows how special it is!
We are so please to have you on the Connecticut Music Therapy Services team. Welcome!
We are happy to introduce you to our newest staff member, Kristen McSorley. Kristen is a board-certified music therapist who focuses on empowering clients in a strength-based, music-centered approach. She has worked with people in all walks of life, including children and adults with special needs, mental health, autism, medical, dementia, hospice care, oncology, stroke, substance abuse, homeless, survivors of trauma, and health and wellness groups. She has also provided music therapy internationally in Jamaica as part of a field service team. Kristen received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at Slippery Rock University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Q: How long have you been in Connecticut?
A: One month! I just moved to Connecticut to work with CTMTS and am already loving it here. I have lived in three different states over the past two years but hail from Pittsburgh, PA.
Q: What brought you to music therapy?
A: I’ve played music all my life! I enjoyed performances as a child to an extent, but never felt they were my calling. I was moreso drawn to the humbler, more intimate aspects of music making. In high school, I excelled in the sciences and was torn when searching for a career. It was important to me that my career be a life-long passion and integrate all of my interests. Thankfully with guidance, I learned of the field of music therapy and here we are today!
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: After obvious responsible decisions, I would love to travel to many different parts of the world. I have always fantasized about participating in elephant research studies where I could live with elephants for a few months and contribute to their survival. I’m not sure if that is a real opportunity, but with the money, I’m sure I could make it so! In my travels, it would also be amazing to go on a tour starting in France and ending in southeast Asia. There are so many sites to see (and so much food to taste!)
Q: What is your favorite part of being a music therapist?
A: Making music with people! It’s always an honor to witness the development of each person’s inner song. Traditionally, music making was something everyone participated in and merely required heart, not superior skill or knowledge. I love that music therapy evolves out of the idea that making music is something all people can enjoy and benefit from.
Welcome to CTMTS, Kristen! We are excited to have you!
Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC is happy to announce that we are looking to add a board certified music therapist to our clinical team! The start date of this position will be September 21, 2015. This will be a full time position.
This position is right for you if:
We are looking for a responsible and dynamic therapist to join our team, therefore this might not be the right position for you if you are looking to establish your own private practice right now, if you are not a good communicator via writing, email and phone, if you are not able to provide transportation between clients or willing to travel throughout your day or if you are not willing grow as a person or clinician.
Connecticut Music Therapy Services, LLC is an established private practice that serves children and adults with developmental and brain health needs in home, school, community, and nursing home settings throughout the state of Connecticut as well as in our Watertown, CT center.
We are seeking to provide an exciting and supportive work experience for a flexible, motivated, energetic, and talented clinician. Some equipment and instruments, clinical supervision and continuing education experiences will be provided. Along with a competitive pay rate, heath insurance and other additional benefits are available to our full time employees.
Please view/download the job posting and application details here.
Registration is open for our group music classes! “Throughout the school year we get so many requests to expand our early childhood programs,” said Jennifer Sokira, director of Connecticut Music Therapy Services. “We are thrilled to be able to offer these groups with Cassandra after last summer’s wonderful turnout!”
Led by board-certified music therapist, Cassandra Mulcahy, these weekly group classes are designed for the whole family to move, laugh, and play in a fun, goal centered, learning environment. Newborns, toddlers, preschoolers and their siblings will learn priceless socialization skills as they explore music. Classes run from July 14 – August 18 with no class held on July 28th at the United Methodist Church of Monroe located at 515 Cutlers Farm Road in Monroe.
Offering 2 classes on Tuesdays:
Please register online by filling out Registration Form posted below or by calling 1 800-796-4914.
Several staff members recently attended the 2015 conference hosted by the New England Region of the American Music Therapy Association. Here is an update on the event from CTMTS co-director, Emily Bevelaqua.
As Music Therapists from the New England Region, we are always spoiled with beautiful locations for our regional conferences. This year was no different at Whitefield, New Hampshire’s Historical Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa in the heart of the White Mountains. It was a wonderful week of networking, learning, and fun.
The conference unofficially started on Thursday, April 16th with some fantastic CMTEs followed by the Opening Banquet and a Song Circle led by Caryl Beth Thomas. Friday’s concurrent sessions offered a wide variety of topics from song writing with dementia patients, to the legislative efforts that occurred in the passage of the music therapy registry bill in Rhode Island, to Multicultural Music Therapy in Early Intervention. (You can find the full conference program here.)
During Friday’s business lunch two of Connecticut Music Therapy Services’ team members were honored with awards! Cassandra Mulcahy, MMT, MT-BC was given the Presidential Service Award and Linda Bosse, MT-BC was given the Lifetime Service Award. We are so lucky to have you working with us Cassandra & Linda! Friday night offered fun and inspiring events for conference attendees including “Take a Drum Ride/A Rock and Roll, Interactive Drumming Hoot” facilitated by Bob Bloom, and our Annual CABARET featuring performances by NER members and dance music by “My Band” led by Kimberly Khare.
Saturday morning started bright and early with a Networking Breakfast, followed by concurrent sessions. I was lucky enough to have been asked by AMTA to present alongside local New Hampshire Music Practitioners; Emily Mills, M. Ed., CMP; Cliff Conti, CMP, and De Luna, CMP. Our presentation which was also given at other regional conferences was called “Learning to Harmonize: Opportunities for Music Therapists and Therapeutic Musicians to Collaborate.” The presentation was well attended and very well received, educating board certified music therapists about what it means to be a certified music practitioner and starting a conversation about how we can work together.
I left this conference feeling energized and I am excited to incorporate everything I learned into my work.
Emily Bevelaqua
Co-Director & Clinical Coordinator
The Connecticut Music Therapy Services family has grown with the addition of music therapist, Kelsy Gati. Armed with a Bachelor’s of Music Therapy from Anna Maria College, Kelsy has experience working with a wide variety of clientele. She has experience working with Children, Adolescents and Seniors in Nursing homes, schools, hospitals and home settings. Her clinical background includes working with people with: Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Rett Syndrome, cognitive delays, developmental disorders, Down Syndrome, Autism, verbal delays, visual impairment, Hospice, Grief Support, physical disabilities and depression.
Q: How long have you been in Connecticut?
Kelsy: I have lived in CT all my life!
Q: What brought you to music therapy?
Kelsy: Luck! Initially I was meant to be an Archaeology Major with a Minor in Music. I have always been interested in history and the artifacts that make up the past. However, the more I thought about the path I was about to embark on the more it didn’t sit right. I ended up in a meeting with my adviser who listened to my interests and ultimately guided me to Music Therapy. This was a field that I had never heard of, however, the first time I heard the words my attention was captured! I proceeded to research and found that everything about this work suited my personality and my passions in life. I would be able to marry my love of music with the ability to help others in creative ways. At that point I applied to the Music Therapy program at Anna Maria College!
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
Kelsy: First, I would pay off my student loans. Then I would take a hot air balloon ride across the world. I have always wanted to travel the world and have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon adventure. This would be the opportunity to see the world from a completely different perspective!
Q: What is your favorite part of being a music therapist?
Kelsy: The people. I am so fortunate in that I get to meet so many amazing people every day. Every person I have met through my work has taught me something. Every person I have met through my work has given me a reason to strive to be better at my job. I love my work, really truly love it. Connecting with others through music is an amazing thing.
Welcome to CTMTS, Kelsy!
