Hello! My name is Lila Finke, and I just started my music therapy internship with Therabeat Inc. I am so honored and excited to work alongside the incredible staff of music therapists and other allied health professionals. I am from Roswell, Georgia, and am currently taking the final step to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy. My primary instrument is my voice, but I also play guitar, piano, ukulele, and percussion. My other hobbies consist of pickleball, art, hiking, yoga, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family.
When looking for a career, I knew that I was interested in music and serving others. Singing has always been a passion of mine, and I have been in choir and have taken music lessons from a young age. Before I knew about music therapy, I was considering pursuing a career as a child psychologist and minoring in music. When I was introduced to music therapy for the first time, I was blown away to hear that music interventions have the ability to do things such as help individuals relearn how to walk or talk. After observing a music therapist at a local hospital, I learned about the therapeutic functions of music and how music is used to treat the needs of the individual. I was so happy to discover that there was a career path that combined my interests and was able to help so many people.
I just finished my first week of internship, and I already feel that I have learned so much. The therapists have been so kind and helpful this past week as I have been observing their music therapy sessions with their clients. It has been so wonderful meeting clients, seeing their unique strengths, and building rapport with them this week. I was also able to observe some allied health professionals from In Harmony Pediatrics, such as several physical therapists and a speech and language therapist. Working at a clinic with other allied health professionals is such a great opportunity to work as a multidisciplinary team to benefit a client’s specific needs. I was able to observe a co-treatment session with a music and physical therapist. Even in one session, it was obvious that the combination of the therapies was extremely beneficial for this client.
This first week has been so educational and exciting! I am looking forward to continuing my education and growth as a music therapist at Therabeat Inc. for the next six months!
-Lila Finke, Music Therapy Intern
