Chief Operating Officer & Music Therapist
Neurologic Music Therapist – Affiliate
Jeff is a neurologic music therapist (fellow/affiliate) with over a decade of experience designing and growing creative arts therapy programs and providing treatment for children, teens, and adults, and nearly two decades working in early childhood and music program development. He is a founding member, administrator, and previous director of Kids Town Child Development Center in Brunswick, Ohio.
Jeff approaches service delivery from a holistic and neuroscience framework, that encourages people to embrace their creativity, strengths, and drive their care through informed decisions, artistic interests, and relationship development. He believes that creativity is a necessary pathway to access and maintain health, and that equitable access to the arts creates healthier communities. Jeff has a long history of helping individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional development, social skills, and physical rehabilitation. He specializes in working with individuals with Aphasia, Dementia, Neurodivergent individuals, and cult survivors.
In addition to his role at ITA, he is a local university lecturer, regional speaker, researcher, and an author. Jeff’s publications include the topics of Music Therapy for social skill development (Music Therapy Social Skills Assessment), creating effective care teams, and music intervention and Dementia. Jeff has chaired boards and committees within the American Music Therapy Association and the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association, and volunteers on local mental health task forces and community working groups.
Jeff’s hobbies and personal wellness practices include drumming, adventures on Lake Michigan, camping amongst the stars, and DIY/woodworking.
Jeff is not currently accepting new clients.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Education and Affiliations: Master of Music in Music Therapy with an emphasis in Counseling from Ohio University, Bachelor of Arts in Percussion Performance from University of Akron, Neurologic Music Therapy-Fellow (NMT-F) certification from the Center for Biomedical Research in Music, at Colorado State University, Executive Leadership training from the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
Insurance Accepted: N/A
Languages Spoken: English
intake@itachicago.org