What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is the clinical use of evidenced-based musical interventions to purposefully target specific goals including physical, emotional, mental, communication, and social skills.
What does it look like?
In music therapy sessions, our therapists may use instrument play, singing, movement, songwriting, analyzing song lyrics, and/or music making interventions to accomplish the goals written on the treatment plan/plan of care. If you’re a parent of a child with a developmental disability, this could look like your child singing their first word while engaging with a preferred song. If you’re a faculty member at an assisted living facility, this could look like a withdrawn resident lifting their head and tapping their foot while the music therapist interacts with them during a familiar song. If you’re a faculty member at an adult day program, this could look like a participant finally interacting with their peers by working together to play the drum.
Thrive Music Therapy LLC Mission Statement
Our mission is to emphasize and celebrate the present abilities of each individual, to empower growth, and to uncover the incredible value each person has no matter the stage of life.
Meet the Team
Annie Meulemans, MT-BC
Founder of Thrive Music Therapy LLC, Annie has been a board certified music therapist since 2017. She has experience working with children, teens, and adults with various disabilities, older adults, hospice care, and teaching adaptive music lessons. She is passionate about serving these individuals and their families in order to see progress of all kinds (physical, mental, emotional, and overall well-being) through music therapy interventions. She loves making those she works with feel empowered, valued, and motivated to work toward their next goal. When not making music, she enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors with her husband, friends, and family, cooking, playing board games, and learning new skills.
Annie is a professional member of the American Music Therapy Association and the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy. She is credentialed through the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
Leah Baltz, MT-BC, NMT
Leah has been a board-certified music therapist since 2016. Since then, she has received and maintained additional certification in Neurologic Music Therapy. Leah has a wide range of experience, working with infants, children, teens, adults, and older adults. She has worked on goals addressing mental health, speech, motor rehabilitation, executive functioning, academic skills, pain management, end-of-life care, and more. Leah is passionate about individualized therapy utilizing strength-based and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to help people reach their goals. When not making music, Leah loves to camp, hike, read, and spend time with friends and family.
Leah is a professional member of the American Music Therapy Association and the Wisconsin Chapter for Music Therapy. She is credentialed through the Certification Board for Music Therapists.