Music Therapy – Metro Music Therapy

Military Suicide Up 20%

Six-months into this “new norm,” and everything still feels very strange and heavy.

On the way to my office this morning, I heard these statistics on the radio, and I had to take a minute to wrap my head around these numbers that were screaming out to me over the car stereo:

Military suicides have increased by as much as 20% this year compared to the same period in 2019 …

And senior Army leaders — who say they’ve seen about a 30% jump in active duty suicides so far this year — told The Associated Press that they are looking at shortening combat deployments … *

Last year, the suicide rates, 20% lower than now, were still too high and unacceptable. It is overwhelming to think of each and every one of the lives that have been tragically changed because of these statistics.

I do not have all of the answers, and these situations can be so complicated; but I do know that music therapy services can help our active-duty military members and veterans. Not only does our field have the research to show this, but we have firsthand anecdotal evidence that music therapy can improve overall well-being and the outlook for the sometimes long road ahead.

Our team partners with WWP to provide in-person and telehealth music therapy services, and we are also very proud to partner with Music Therapy of the Rockies, a non-profit very near and dear to us that provides Songwriting Retreats for Veterans with PTSD.

If you or a loved-one is struggling due to military-related trauma, please know that we can help — no matter where you are. Our team now provides telehealth services to clients all over the globe, and we would be honored to walk alongside you during this crucial time.

With you in the hard times and the good,

*Read the full article from WSB News & Talk here.

Mallory Even2020-09-28T16:52:41+00:00September 28th, 2020|Grief & Loss, Mental Health, MT in Healthcare, Music Therapy, music therapy and wellness, stress, Teletherapy, Veterans, Wellness|

Board-Certified!

A huge thank you to the Certification Board for Music Therapists for helping our clients verify that we are, indeed, highly-qualified to provide clinical music therapy services! When searching for a Music Therapist, be sure that they are nationally board-certified through the one and only credentialing board, CBMT, and look for this badge!

Board-certified music therapists are able to practice music therapy with the highest level of proven, current music therapy knowledge using clinical and evidence-based music interventions. These interventions are utilized to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. This knowledge is enhanced by a program of required continuing education and renewal every five years.

SKILLS:

Certification
Competence
Music Therapist
Music Therapy
Music Therapy Assessment
Music Therapy Evaluation
Music Therapy Treatment

Mallory Even2020-09-17T15:35:45+00:00September 17th, 2020|Continuing Education, MT Advocacy, MT Misconceptions, Music Therapy|

10KSB Program

We are so proud of our Founder & Director, Mallory Even, for being invited into the Fall 2020 Cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program!

Mallory is now a member of a select group—only 137 businesses from across the United States were invited to participate after a highly competitive application process, based on their qualifications, potential and enthusiasm.

This program is a short-term, intensive, comprehensive business education including support services and networking opportunities to help grow the business and create jobs in our community.

Throughout the course Mallory will study leadership, competitive strategy, marketing and operations management, human resource management, accounting and finance with instruction from top academics and proven business leaders who share her passion to enhance the business performance.

We know that great things lie ahead!

Mallory Even2020-09-17T15:07:41+00:00September 16th, 2020|MT Advocacy, Music Therapy, Small Business|

Be the One …

Our founder, Mallory, recently shared this story about her father:

“Music was the way in which my father experienced, interacted with, and related to the world around him. It was common practice for him to ask us to sit down and listen to a song with him; his timing was always terrible, actually, so if we ignored his request, which we often did, he’d just turn the song on so loudly that you had no choice but to hear it throughout the house.

One of the many, many things he taught me, and that I will always carry with me, is that if someone asks you to listen to a song because it’s meaningful to them, be the one who will.”

And this is our promise to you: we will listen to you, with you, and for you.

Mallory Even2020-09-11T20:38:53+00:00September 2nd, 2020|For the Music Therapist, Grief & Loss, Mental Health, MT Advocacy, Music Therapy, music therapy and wellness, We Can Help, Wellness|

MT Internship & COVID-19

Hi everybody!

My name is Merideth and I’ve recently moved from the country roads of West Virginia to the sunny, peach state of Georgia to begin my six-month music therapy internship with Metro Music Therapy. Woohoo! If you told me a year (or even 6 months ago) that I’d be interning in the midst of a global pandemic, I wouldn’t have believed you. But, here I am!

As we all know, it’s been a challenge navigating the world of technology to still successfully “see” clients but through a new lens…or in this case, a screen. Thus far, the faces I’ve had the pleasure of meeting virtually are warm and welcoming. I’m sad I’m unable to see their smiles, give them hugs, and watch them make beautiful music in person. Hopefully, one day!

This experience has already differed from my school experience in the sense that I have multiple clients per day with different diagnoses compared to one client per week. While this is a bit of a challenge at the moment, I’ve already gained more knowledge than imagined just in the two short weeks of observation. I really am excited to continue growing personally and professionally. Metro Music Therapy has given me an amazing opportunity to learn from truly some of the best clinicians as well as amazing clients. I am blessed and ready to continue this journey! Stay tuned for updates. 🙂

Merideth McClain

Mallory Even2020-09-11T18:30:16+00:00August 21st, 2020|For the Music Therapist, MT Advocacy, Music Therapy, Teletherapy, We Can Help|

Memorial Day 2020

Memorial Day is a day to remember and mourn the military personnel who have given their lives so that we may continue to live in freedom with our families and friends.

Here at Metro Music Therapy, we take today to remember, celebrate, and appreciate all who have given their lives so that we may continue to live.

We have known many of you, and have never met most of you; but today, we celebrate all of you.

Thank you — and may we honor your lives by never taking for granted the immeasurable gift you have given to us all, and by continuing to uphold and sustain each other through the good times and most especially through the hard times.

With our deepest gratitude,
The Metro Music Therapy Team

Mallory Even2020-05-26T15:11:42+00:00May 24th, 2020|Bereavement, Grief & Loss, Holiday, Holidays, Music Therapy, Veterans, We Can Help, Wellness|

A COVID-19 UPDATE

UPDATED 9/1/2020:

To our Dear Clients,

It has been 6 months since we have seen each of you in-person, and boy do we feel that! We miss you all tremendously, and cannot wait until we can be together in the same room for music therapy and music lessons.

This is my reason for writing to you today: we feel the tension of both wanting to open back up and resume as much normalcy as possible, while we also know that we do not know enough just yet to do this in a safe manner.

While to you and your family it may only be 30-45 minutes with one of our staff members once a week, which sounds like low exposure, our team collectively works with over 60 families and facilities, which impacts all of our chances of potential exposure dramatically. Simply stated: in order to continue keeping your families safe, we are not ready to resume in-person services just yet.

We are closely following the CDC and WHO guidelines, and we are also keeping a pulse on the happenings around the State of Georgia. Once we feel that we can safely re-open our Studio space and return to visiting our client’s homes and facilities, I promise that you will be the first to know!

In the meantime, we have been thrilled to continue music therapy services via teletherapy and we are so grateful that we have this option. If you have opted not to participate in teletherapy up to this point, but would like to go ahead and get started, please reach out!

Thank you for your patience over the last two months as we have navigated this journey together. We are grateful for each of you!

Sincerely,

Mallory Even, LPMT, MT-BC
Owner & Director of Metro Music Therapy

Mallory Even2020-09-14T13:31:05+00:00May 18th, 2020|Blog, Medical, Mental Health, MT Advocacy, MT in Healthcare, Music Therapy, music therapy and wellness, news, Teletherapy, We Can Help|

How Great Thou Art

Over the past few weeks, our team has been hard at work behind the scenes creating a virtual choir/orchestra as a gift for Ravi Zacharias from his daughter, Naomi Zacharias, who is the Director of Wellspring International.

MMT and Wellspring have partnered together over the last five years to provide music therapy services through our Songs of Hope program to hospice patients, bereaved children, and refugees who have resettled in the Atlanta area.

When Naomi approached our team with the request of creating this gift for her father, who has been undergoing cancer treatment over the last few months, we were humbled to have been asked.

Everyone at Wellspring International and RZIM have become near and dear to us over the years, and we wholeheartedly respect and admire the work they do around the globe.

While Naomi and her family navigate this difficult journey, we are honored to provide comfort in the way that we know best: through music.

You can watch the MMT virtual choir, beginning with a heartfelt message from Naomi, here.

To the Zacharias family: our thoughts, hearts, and love are with you all. #ThankYouRavi

With sincere gratitude and love,

Mallory Even2020-05-18T14:10:17+00:00May 13th, 2020|Bereavement, Grief & Loss, Hospice Music Therapy, Medical, MT in Healthcare, Music Therapy, We Can Help|

MMT Singing-gram

We all want to be together again, doing the things we love.
We want to laugh together and celebrate birthdays and weddings,
cry together and grieve the normalcy we’ve lost,
and we long to hug each other through all of it.

Our team feels this with you and we want to help you
stay connected to those you love during this time.

Be TOGETHER while social distancing.

Here’s how:

Choose a date and time from our Singing-gram calendar
Enter your contact information and the contact information of your loved one who will be receiving the live Singing-gram
We will email the recipient (and cc you) with the link for the Singing-gram and the date and time to login (the song you choose will remain a surprise until the delivery of the Singing-gram!)
The best part? You will be on the call, too, so that you can see your loved ones’ reaction! You can also send the link to other friends and family members if this is a gift from multiple people/families!

Help Spread the Word: When you post images and videos of the live Singing-gram on social media, use #MMTSinginggram and @MetroMusicTherapy to help us spread the word! You can also ask the recipient to keep the love going by nominating another recipient!

Once the Singing-gram has been delivered, and we have made you and your loved one(s) smile, please consider making a donation to Metro Music Therapy to help cover the costs of spreading cheer! (Suggested donation of $20.00 per Singing-gram: paypal.me/metromusictherapy)

Mallory Even2020-04-29T15:45:00+00:00April 2nd, 2020|MT in Healthcare, Music Therapy, Teletherapy, We Can Help, Wellness|

April Music & Movement!

Another month at home …

We can do this!
Our team is excited to offer another chance to make music with us
through an online platform throughout the month of April!

Here’s the Deal:

Geared towards children ages 0-5
All classes ONLINE!
Singing, dancing, counting, learning letters, making animal noises, and meeting new friends!
$80 for 8 classes

Mallory Even2020-04-02T18:12:52+00:00April 1st, 2020|Adaptive Lessons, Music Therapy, Pediatric, Teletherapy, We Can Help|