Curriculum Vitae
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Adjunct professor - Brookdale Community College & Monmouth University
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23 years of experience in healthcare - rehabilitation services & psychotherapy
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Board-Certified Music Therapist - American Music Therapy Association
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Certified Brain Injury Specialist – Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists
2018-present
Doctor of Philosophy-Music Education with a Specialization in Music Therapy
New York University
Dissertation focus: clinical application and efficacy of person-centered music therapy as a treatment modality for Locked-in syndrome post-severe traumatic brain injury; investigate access limitations to care.
2007-2011
Master of Arts - Music Therapy
New York University
Master’s thesis: Music-centered music therapy & individuals recovering from brain injury
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Clinical internship & fieldwork at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy (NYC)
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Clinical fieldwork in hematology & oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center
1998-2000
Master of Arts - Medical Humanities
Drew University
Master’s thesis: The integration of holistic medicine into traditional medical care
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Concentrations in psychoanalysis & psychotherapy
1994-1998
Bachelor of Arts - General Arts
Villanova University
Concentrations in Education, Music, Peace & Justice Studies
Education
1990 -1994
Seton Hall Preparatory School
College preparatory high school located in West Orange, NJ
Professional Experience
2011-present
Founder & Clinical Director
Mosaic Music Therapy & Neuro-Rehabilitation
1420 Meetinghouse Road, Suite 3, Sea Girt, NJ
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Mosaic provides music therapy and rehabilitation services to over 70 participants weekly in our clinic, in addition to specialized schools and hospitals in our community.
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Participants served include neurodiverse individuals, children and adults with developmental needs, learning disabilities, psychological stressors, traumatic & acquired brain injury, speech & language development
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Supervisor & mentor of clinical staff, student interns & volunteers
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Manage daily operations of clinic, including finances, contracts with State of NJ, specialized schools & hospitals, and adult day programs
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Community liaison responding to inquiries about the field of music therapy and participation in services at Mosaic
2007-2011
Cognitive Rehabilitation Specialist
Children's Specialized Hospital of New Jersey
Department of Pediatric Neuro-Rehabilitation - Fanwood, NJ
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Developed pioneering music-centered pediatric neuro-rehabilitation group therapy modality in collaboration with clinical neuropsychology team
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Provided group neuro-rehabilitation services to children aged 5-17 with traumatic and acquired brain injury to remediate cognitive skills and compensatory strategy training
2005-2007
Clinical Brain Injury Specialist
JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institue
The Center for Head Injuries - Edison, NJ
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Facilitated clinical therapy services for outpatient adult neuro-rehabilitation program
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Assisted with vocational rehabilitation program, focused on returning therapy participants to former positions of employment post-rehabilitation.
2000-2005
Intake Coordinator & Psychotherapist
Monmouth Medical Center
Children's Crisis Intervention Services & Dept. of Adult Psychiatry - Long Branch, NJ
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Provided psychiatric screening services for partial hospitalization program & outpatient day program; individual & group therapy facilitation; pediatric & adult crisis intervention team member
Teaching Experience
2014-present
Adjunct Professor
Brookdale Community College
Department of Psychology - Lincroft, NJ
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Instructor of undergraduate psychology
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Courses taught:
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Human Development Over the Lifespan
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Human Growth & Development from Birth-12 Years
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2015-2018
Adjunct Professor
Monmouth University
Wayne D. McMurray Graduate School of Humanities & Social Sciences
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Instructor in the Department of Professional Counseling
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Courses created & taught:
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Introduction to Music Therapy
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Presentations
Weekly lecture series on developing insight and awareness in music therapy sessions - to clinical staff of Mosaic Music Therapy & Neuro-Rehabilitation Services (2018-present)
Guest Lecturer - Annual Careers in Psychology Symposium; Brookdale Community College (2013, 2014, 2015)
Guest Lecturer - "Introduction to Music Therapy"; Careers in Healthcare Symposium; Seton Hall Preparatory School, West Orange, NJ (2014)
Guest Lecturer - Introduction to person-centered, Creative Music Therapy - Brookdale Community College (2012)
Guest Lecturer - Music-centered neuro-rehabilitation - Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey Annual Seminar, Eatontown, NJ (2012)
Staff Lecturer - Integration of music-centered music therapy into pediatric neuro-rehabilitation- to inpatient medical & clinical staff of Children’s Specialized Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ-(2011)
Staff Lecturer - Use of therapeutic music in pediatric cognitive rehabilitation - to Department of Neuro-Rehabilitation – Children’s Specialized Hospital (2009)
Television & Radio
Featured music therapist on George to The Rescue - NBC Television - McGibbon Family episode (2018)
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George To the Rescue partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation to provide living accommodations for a wounded veteran recovering from traumatic brain injury.
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Mosaic Music Therapy was featured as an advocate for music therapy services on national television
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This episode won a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Lifestyle Series
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Link to episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOwUx5Z7CH4&t=2s
Repeat guest on 94.3 FM The Point radio station, hosted by Lou Russo & Liz Jeressi during their morning show broadcast (2016 & 2017)
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Presented an overview of music therapy services
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Discussed the benefits of music therapy to assist individuals with mental health stressors
Research Experience & Interests
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Investigation of the use of physical therapy techniques within Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy sessions on clients recovering from stroke; In collaboration with the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy & the Rusk Institute, NYU Medical Center (2011)
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Strength-based therapy approaches within the context of psychotherapy & music therapy
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The emergence of abilities in neurodiverse individuals through participation in music therapy
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The use of music-centered music therapy in the remediation of cognitive skills post-brain injury
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Music-centered music therapy and increased attention span in neurodiverse children and adolescents
Professional Certifications
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Board-Certified Music Therapist - Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT)
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Certified Brain Injury Specialist – Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS)
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CPR and First Aid certification - The American Red Cross (1990-2011)
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Member: American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
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Special Olympics of New Jersey - head coach (10 years)
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Licensed Professional Counselor - certification eligible