History
Emerald Coast Music Therapy was established in 2024 to serve individuals along the Emerald Coast of Florida. Our vision is to collaborate with the individual, their family, and their other service providers to create a dynamic and individualized care plan to best support their goals. Currently, we are providing music therapy services in-home or at specified facilities.
About us.
Our Mission
At Emerald Coast Music Therapy, we aim to provide high-quality music therapy services to individuals and their families by implementing therapeutic music experiences, providing strategies to generalize skills, and promoting well-being.
Our Philosophy
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We believe that each person is a bright and competent individual that offers unique strengths to every relationship. Our goal is to support each individual’s autonomy and independence throughout the music therapy process.
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Our practice is shaped by the neuroscience of music processing, production, and engagement. Read more about the neuroscience-informed approach to music therapy.
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We honor and accept all forms of communication, including but not limited to gestures, sign language, facial expressions, Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC), eye gaze, vocalizations, etc. Our goal is for each individual to feel understood using their preferred communication strategy.
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We are committed to an anti-oppressive approach to music therapy practice. We strive to create an environment where you can feel valued and safe. Discrimination, of any kind, will not be tolerated. Read more about the anti-oppressive approach to music therapy.
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We believe that the use of live music experiences and the therapeutic relationship can serve as a motivator for engaging in therapeutic exercises and influence progress toward therapeutic goals.
Rachel is a board-certified music therapist that grew up right here in Destin, Florida. Rachel received a B.M. in Music on Clarinet from the University of Florida and a M.M. in Music Therapy from Colorado State University. Upon completion of her internship at Integrated Therapy of Northern Colorado in Fort Collins, Colorado, she moved to San Diego, California to provide music therapy services in the educational setting to students in Special Education in the San Diego Unified School District, as well as in private practice with Michelle Hardy Autism Services. Rachel has experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, visual impairments, Parkinson’s disease, and memory loss.
