Music 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. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.

~American Music Therapy Association

Music Therapy is an interactive experience that transcends any mental or verbal limitations. It’s a therapy generally viewed as less taxing or more fun simply due to the fact that music is the means through which the therapeutic service is provided. Personalized goals may be addressed through playing instruments, making up songs, or listening with a purpose, depending on the needs and preferences of each individual. Guitar, piano, drums, and other various percussion instruments are regularly used in each session. For more information on Music Therapy, you can visit the national website at www.musictherapy.org.


What to Expect as a New Client

  • 2-3 Assessment sessions
  • An initial Assessment Report covering need areas to be addressed
  • Continued weekly sessions
  • Quarterly progress reports(3-4 times per year)
  • Honest and Consistent communication from the music therapist

Cost for Music Therapy services

For individual sessions: Private Pay($5 discount) Selt/Family Directed Services
(Medical Reimbursement)
50 min $55 $60
30 min $35 $40

Teacher: Sarah Carroll, MT-BC, NMT
Education: BA in Music from BYU-Idaho; Music Therapy Equivalency from Arizona State University; Internship at Higher Octave Healing in Tempe, AZ
Specialties: Music Therapy (30 & 50 minute, individual or small group), Adaptive Lessons for individuals with special needs (any instrument)

Sarah is a performance-major-turned-Music-Therapist and all around music enthusiast. She grew up playing piano and clarinet, and playing with her younger brother with Down Syndrome. She has worked in programs with adults and children with a variety of developmental disabilities since 2008. During her study to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Music at BYU-Idaho, Sarah enjoyed music theory and clarinet performance but also took every instrument method class available—learning the entire gamut of wind, brass, and string instruments. After graduating with honors, Sarah moved to Arizona where she fulfilled the requirements for ASU’s Music Therapy Equivalency program which included a 1200-hour internship at Higher Octave Healing in Tempe. After passing the CBMT exam in February 2016, Sarah worked as a Board-Certified Music Therapist at a new clinic called B&B Treehouse in Scottsdale, AZ. While there, she helped to establish a music therapy program for children with developmental disabilities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. She additionally completed the courses to become a Neurologic Music Therapist through the International Neurologic Music Therapy Training Institute which is endorsed by the World Federation of Neurologic Rehabilitation. Through her pre-clinical and clinical work, Sarah has experience in helping people with Autism, Down Syndrome, Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome, Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, learning delays, speech delays, Alzheimer’s and dementia. She is also familiar with helping people with PTSD, TBI, chemical dependency, psychiatric disorders, those intellectually gifted, recovering from stroke, and those in hospice and palliative care circumstances. Sarah has a firm belief in the power of music to influence every life for the better through interaction and creation and she is excited to expand music therapy offerings in her native Treasure Valley.

Quotes from past clients:

  • Laura, mom of child with Autism, age 4: "Sarah was always very professional with my son and me. She was kind and encouraging to him. Sarah… always described my son's progress and challenges in each session in a kind and constructive way."
  • Bryna, mom of child with Autism, age 10: "Sarah is a gifted instrument and voice teacher for special needs children. She is passionate and her love for music and special kids is evident in her enthusiastic and energetic techniques. She was extremely patient with my son, encouraged him, and received his very best effort every session. My son was always excited to see her and looked forward to his weekly sessions of music therapy."
  • Virginia, mom of child with Autism, age 6: "Sarah was able to engage with [our son], as well as get him to interact with her during the very first session. She created structure and goals that helped him become a more focused happier little boy. She was amazing in creating opportunities for interaction with him during music therapy sessions. The evaluations and progress reports sent to us from her were concise, accurate and professionally well-written."