My Journey as a Music Therapist

My music therapy journey dates back to when I was just two years old, competing for more stage time to show off the latest song I had learned from my Indian classical (Carnatic) music teacher. As my mom likes to say, I started singing before I started speaking. With 15 years of Carnatic music training under my belt, music became an integral part of my life. However, I had little exposure to Western music until I joined my high school choir in California.

Thanks to all that training, countless recital performances, and my family’s passion for music, I knew I wanted to pursue something related to singing in college. When my college counselor helped me explore majors, I told her I wanted to study music—but not music performance. That’s when we came across music therapy. My parents and I had long discussions about the degree and whether it would be the right fit for me. Coming from a lineage of women in helping professions, I’ve always loved helping others. I also enjoy challenging myself, and music therapy seemed like the perfect combination of my passions and a meaningful challenge.

I ultimately chose the University of Minnesota, despite visiting during the frigid month of February! Though I had never experienced such cold weather before, I felt an instant connection after meeting the professors and exploring the music therapy program. My gut told me it was the right place for me. After four years of rigorous musical training, research, and practica experiences—amidst a global pandemic—I virtually graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy!

By the time I was in college, my parents had relocated to Colorado. Knowing the required internship after graduation wouldn’t pay much, I decided to look for opportunities there. After an intimidating interview process, I was thrilled to secure an internship with Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins, Colorado. The experience was transformative. Over weeks of observation, skill-building, learning unfamiliar music, and having tough but constructive conversations with my two supervisors, I successfully completed my internship.

Once I completed the internship, I found myself thrown into the deep end of the job search process. I applied impatiently to countless positions across the country. After months of perseverance, I was hired as a contractor for a music therapy company in Madison, Wisconsin. I packed up my life and drove two days from Denver to Madison, excited to work as a music therapist for the first time.

However, I soon encountered intense feelings of imposter syndrome. I constantly questioned whether I was taking the "right" approach with my clients and struggled to trust myself as a therapist. These challenges pushed me to reflect deeply on my practice, ultimately sparking my desire to continue growing as a music therapist.

Six months later, I returned to Denver to pursue a graduate degree at Colorado State University. Over the next two years, I immersed myself in intensive learning and research while working part-time as a music therapist. This combination allowed me to apply the concepts I was learning in real-time, strengthening my confidence and skills. I graduated with a Master’s in Music with a Music Therapy Specialization, feeling more prepared than ever to serve my clients.

Around the time I completed graduate school, I was preparing for another big life transition—marriage—and needed to relocate. After I had made the decision to move to Atlanta, I began exploring job opportunities and was hired as a contract music therapist for an Atlanta-based company.

For years, I had nurtured a small seed of an idea: to one day start my own private practice. A few months after moving to Atlanta, I finally took the leap and founded Aroha Music Therapy! I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next. For now, I’m deeply grateful for the professors, supervisors, and clients who have shaped my path. I can’t wait to continue growing and helping others through music therapy.