DSES - The Benefits of Music Therapy
The Down Syndrome Education Series (DSES) is a monthly educational seminar for families of children with Down syndrome, designed to connect parents with information that will positively impact the education and well-being of their child.
DSA is proud to bring its members Music Therapy education and information with Emily R. Wadhams, who works with many DSA friends and families.
What is Musical Therapy? Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.
We look forward to hearing more about Music Therapy and the clients it has effected at the March DSES, when Emily will share her experiences, insights, and expertise.
More about the DSES "Benefits of Music Therapy" speaker:
Emily R. Wadhams, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and Owner of Omaha Music Therapy, LLC, has been working with musical therapy patients since 2003. Emily has provided treatment to many, including individuals in special education classrooms, Alzheimer’s patients and nursing home residents, and cancer patients.
After completing her music therapy internship in Denton, TX and passing the board certification exam, Emily was the sole music therapist in three school districts in the Dallas area for a number of years. She worked with a wide range of ability levels and a variety of diagnoses present in special education.
In 2006, Emily relocated to San Jose, CA and began work for a hospice company. As one of two music therapists at this company, she assessed clients, implemented treatment plans, consulted with nursing staff, kept detailed documentation for each patient, consulted with families, played at funerals, increased quality of life, counseled grieving families, assisted families in interactions with patient, helped clients with pain management (both physical and emotional), and discontinued services when appropriate. Emily added on a few Alzheimer's groups and some individual clients, including one recovering from a stroke and a classroom full of energetic high school special education students. In 2011, she completed her certification in Hospice Palliative Care Music Therapy (HPMT).
In the fall of 2012, Emily decided it was time to move back to the Omaha area. Omaha Music Therapy has served Omaha and the surrounding areas ever since. In 2018, she decided it was time to expand OMT and it officially changed to a LLC and added another therapist, Amanda Hawes, who has a Masters degree in Music Education and is a Registered Behavioral Therapist and Board Certified Music Therapist.
