Lenny Schwartz he/him/his
MHC
Undergraduate Degree - Lesley University
Masters Degree - Lesley University
Specialty/Age Groups Treated - I do music therapy and art therapy with any age group.
Language: English
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I take a client centered approach and believe in meeting clients where they're at. In a first session, I will introduce an art intervention and bring my music speaker to play either client requested music, pre-selected music from a relaxing music playlist, or gently strum and finger pick on my own acoustic guitar depending on what the client finds most calming. A very important part of therapy is building rapport with the client, so during the first session, I will keep the questions light and focused mainly on getting to know the client as a human being as well as answer any questions they may have for me to start to create a safe foundation for deeper therapeutic work.
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I believe strongly in co-regulation and vagus nerve stimulation which are evidence based ways to make a client feel safe and heal while working on their therapeutic goals in session. I like to take a client-centered focus, playing client preferred music, singing client preferred songs together and making art using the clients preferred art making methods which are all excellent ways to co-regulate and have fun with creativity along the way!
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When I was in second grade, I once beat former president George W. Bush in a coloring contest that I challenged him to at a family friends restaurant. My life has really come full circle!
I graduated with my master’s in music therapy and mental health counseling from Lesley University. Before I attended Lesley, I worked for AmeriCorps as a youth engagement specialist and ran a successful weekly music group with foster youth. Through Lesley, I completed my first year-long internship working with adults with developmental disabilities, facilitating group and individual music therapy sessions. Also through Lesley, I completed my second year-long internship working at a trauma-informed therapeutic high school with teenagers diagnosed with anxiety, ADHD, and suicidal ideation. I facilitated and co-facilitated bi-weekly music and art therapy groups and also facilitated individual music therapy sessions. I employ a client-centered approach, meaning after some initial "get-to-know-the-client" sessions I will use clients' preferred form of music and/or art-making to address their therapeutic goals, in a manner that feels both safe and fun for the client. This can include collaborative music playing, songwriting, drumming, drawing, painting, traditional verbal processing, and several other interventions designed specifically to address my client’s goals. I have other non-therapeutic experiences working with kids of all age groups, including having worked as a paraprofessional in an Elementary school, a substitute teacher for all grade levels, and a tutor for Elementary and Middle school students. I am willing and open to working with any age group. A fun fact about me is that I have toured a large amount of the United States playing bass with my indie/punk rock band that I still play into this day, though we have retired from touring for the most part.