Enthusiastic and a wonderful client advocate, Kristie provides an exciting and grounded experience for her clients and families.  Her approach includes making sure clients are seen and heard where they are at, and her welcoming and playful personality makes learning new skills an enjoyable and motivating experience.  We look forward to seeing what she can do with you or your loved one through music therapy.

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Kristie joined the Alliance Music Therapy team in June 2023 as an independent contractor.  She achieved her Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy with a Minor in Psychology from Western Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) from Hamline University with a focus on Autism and improvisational music therapy action research as her capstone.  With heaps of experience under her belt, Kristie has been a Board-Certified Music Therapist for over 25 years and has worked with clients of all ages in both the community and public school programming.  She previously worked in the Independent School District 200 - Hastings where she developed the Music Therapy program and conducted therapy sessions across 5 school districts in the southern and southeast suburbs of the Twin Cities.  Furthermore, Kristie's clinical experiences include working directly with individuals with neurodevelopmental, physical, and mental health diagnoses and conditions; brain injuries; early childhood settings; and older adults with Alzheimer's/Dementia.  Her primary instrument is voice and she plays guitar, piano, ukulele, saxophone, and flute.  Kristie has completed her Level I Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) training.

 

After raising 2 boys, she has spent her free time in the last several years singing in area choirs, including the Elizabethan Syngers at the MN Renaissance Festival, the Valley Chamber Chorale in Stillwater, Exultate Chamber Choir based in Bloomington, Woven Voices in Columbia Heights, and The Summer Singers in St. Paul.  Kristie has performed in several area community musical theater productions and more recently has even been honing her classical singing skills with her voice coach, as well as working on some roles with the Opera Reading Project.  She is a huge Walt Disney World fan and appreciates visits down to Florida at various resorts with her family.  Need any Disney World suggestions? Ask Kristie!