Chelsea Ventura (She/Her)
MA, MT-BC
Undergraduate Degree - Oglethorpe University
Masters Degree - Lesley University
Specialty/Age Groups Treated - I specialize in resource-oriented music therapy approaches and typically incorporate ACT, DBT, or CBT orientations depending on an individual's needs. I have clinical experience supporting pre-teens, teenagers, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and other complex mental health challenges.
Languages: English
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The first session will be all about me getting to know a bit about you and your goals for therapy. My aim is for a flexible conversation around your perception of therapy, any coping strategies you've tried, as well as us exploring your preferences, strengths, and how you'll feel safe and best supported in our sessions. I typically share some information about the different Expressive Therapy modalities with the intention that we co-create your sessions utilizing your interests and comfort level with creative expression to support your goals. For the purpose of getting to know you better and having fun, our first session may involve creating art, playing drums, singing/humming, or listening to music together!
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One of my favorite approaches within the Expressive Therapies is Guided imagery with music (GIM), which includes both music therapy and art therapy in a session. It's important to mention you don't have to identify as an artist or a musician to participate in the expressive therapies! Therapy is all about the process, not the product. Music and the arts help clients gain access to emotions and I've found this intermodal approach offers pathways to help uncover a sense of self and fosters self-efficacy.
Other favorite music therapy approaches: The steel-tongue drum can be regulating and effective when used with box breathing, so I may play this in the beginning or end of sessions to support mindfulness. Creating regulation music playlists (songs evoke different moods), songwriting, lyric analysis, adaptive guitar lessons, or music improvisation.
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I sing and play guitar, and love to travel! I went to London just to see Led Zeppelin play a one-off gig.
I'm a pre-licensed mental health clinician and board-certified music therapist (MT-BC). I earned my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Music Therapy from Lesley University. I have clinical experience working inpatient at a psychiatric hospital supporting teenagers and adults with complex mental health needs and have experience working in school settings with adolescents struggling with a variety of mental health challenges and developmental delays. My practice is rooted in empowerment and supporting the client's sense of identity to build autonomy and confidence to problem solve.
I will often integrate music therapy with mindfulness or acceptance and commitment therapy approaches to support the exploration of emotions among clients and facilitate learning new coping strategies to defuse unhelpful thoughts. I practice from a humanistic, trauma-informed lens where I believe individuals already possess everything that they need to learn how to cope with life's challenges, and the music therapist supports health promotion through helping individuals' access their ability to cope through utilizing their strengths. This autonomous support provides individuals with agency to reclaim their power through creative expression and take ownership of their life narrative.
