#60- Cross-Trained Music Therapists Panel- Part I

In this special episode, my co-host Brittany and I discuss the intricacies of becoming a cross-trained music therapist. A cross-trained music therapists implies that a person is both certified as a music therapist as well as trained (or in training) in some other allied discipline. Listen to our amazing panel guests discuss the catalyst to their cross-training journey, identity development, advocacy opportunities, and benefits of their unique journeys. Panelists represent other allied fields such as occupational therapy, psychotherapy, counseling, social work, and family therapy. Enjoy all of the great perspectives in this episode!

Brittany Tachkov, MT-BC, a board certified music therapist and hospice & palliative care certified clinician. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in counseling with a marriage, family, and child emphasis at Palo Alto University. Hospice and bereavement work has been her primary focus for the past five years, with additional interests including trauma and creative arts working with multiple generations of a family.

Mabel Ortiz, MM, MT-BC, a native of Puerto Rico, is a board-certified music therapist who obtained a master’s degree in Music Therapy from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. . As a bilingual music therapist (English and Spanish), Mabel utilizes therapeutic interventions to address psychosocial needs and pain management goals of those facing the end-of-life journey & those who have experienced loss and major life transitions. Mabel is currently completing a master’s in clinical social work at Florida State University. As a cross-trained music therapist, she strives to continue to advocate and provide services to Latinx clients in the community, as well as education, support, and resources for music therapists working with this population.

Allie McNay, OTR, MT-BC, recently received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from CSU Dominguez Hills and she has been practicing as a board-certified music therapist for the past eight years in acute psychiatric hospital settings. As a newly certified OT, she plans to combine her music therapy and OT clinical skills to create dynamic programming to address adolescent mental health needs. Connection within the MT professional community is very meaningful to Allie, and she currently serves as President on the Board of Directors for California Association for Music Therapy (CAAMT).

Aksana Kavaliova-Moussi, MTA is a Neurologic Music Therapist Fellow, Registered Psychotherapist(Qualifying), Certified Trauma Integration Clinician living in Canada. She has Masters’ in Music Therapy and Counseling Psychology. She works with individuals with special needs, trauma survivors, elderlies, and mental health.

Amelia M Lane, MA, MT-BC, NCC graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2012 from Charleston Southern University after completing her medical music therapy internship at Florida Hospital Orlando (now AdventHealth). After graduation, Amelia worked full-time as a music therapist at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama and held a part-time contract as a music therapist with Children’s of Alabama. Amelia graduated with a Master of Arts in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2019. Shortly after completing this graduate program, Amelia returned to the central Florida area to become the music therapist at the Celebration campus of AdventHealth, working in the Cancer Institute. Amelia loves her cat, Penny Lane, and enjoys watching history documentaries in her spare time.

Xingyu Yao (Cherub), MT-BC, MSc Candidate is an entrepreneur, educator, performing artist, multi-instrumentalist, board certified music therapist, composer, and Berklee alumna. To her, music is creative expression, communication, spiritual practice, transformation, medicine, and a catalyst for social change.

Corey Hughes, MT-BC

Check out the Facebook group called “Cross-Trained Music Therapists” where we all met!

Check out Brittany on the AMTA Youtube channel talking about music therapy in a COVID-19 world.

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