Hello from Stephanie, The Lotus Tree’s new Music Therapist!

I am thrilled to be joining the team at The Lotus Tree, and can’t believe there is a place in Boise that combines compassionate clinicians, connected families and a CAVE ROOM! Needless to say, if you can’t find me, I’m in the tree house.

I was born and raised in Boise, received my music therapy training in Boston and moved back to Boise last January. While in Boston, I discovered an incredible network of music therapists (every school, hospital and nursing home has one) and looked forward to the day that Idaho families would have access to this therapy. So here it is!

My therapy philosophy is very relationship based. I believe that progress can only be made in a trusting and caring therapeutic relationship. The beautiful thing is that trust is a built-in part of music-making (e.g., trust that the song will maintain rhythm, continue in an expected manner, or even that the song will end). So before you know it, the relationship is building without the necessity of words. I also practice improvisational music therapy, so that songs can be adapted to the moment. This allows for a wide variety of tempos and dynamics, which give songs the flexibility necessary to adequately work toward specific goals.

Some goals we might work toward in music therapy include:
Communication (we’re often seeking pathways to verbal communication)
Promoting positive social relationships (especially in groups)
Sustaining and developing attention
Shared play, turn-taking, listening and responding to others
Developing identification and appropriate expression of emotion
Enhancing auditory processing and sensory/motor skills
The following groups start Monday, August 2nd:
Monday 10 am- Preschool
Monday 11 am- OT/Music Group with Andrea and Stephanie
Monday 3 pm- K-2nd Grade
Monday 4 pm- Teens

Please contact me if you have any questions. My cell number is 208-371-9102 and my email is MusicTherapyofIdaho@gmail.com. If you are a regular to The Lotus Tree and would like to meet me, let me know when you’re around and I’ll try to stop in while you’re there.

I’m very excited to be here and look forward to meeting you all!

Stephanie Leavell, MT-BC