Hello! My name is Justine Gibson and I am a newly board-certified music therapist (May 2022) who is now a staff music therapist here at Rhythm Garden Music LLC.
Musically, like many musicians and music therapists, my story starts before the age of four when I started singing in my church’s children’s choir where I blinked and woke up with over 20 years of choral experience. Along with choir, I began taking voice lessons at the age of 14 and piano lessons at the age of seven, meaning I have over 10 years of vocal training and 18 years of playing the piano. While at SMWC, I was an active member of the Chorale (non-auditioned choir) and Madrigals (auditioned women’s choir) and even went to Ireland (twice) to sing as a member of Madrigals, where the group won an international choral festival during the second trip. My primary instrument in college was my voice, and my secondary instrument was the piano.
I received my Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy and Minor in Psychology from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC). I was highly active at the Woods as a resident assistant (RA), a member and executive board member of several clubs, and spending time with the Sisters of Providence. While a music therapy practicum student I had the opportunity to support children, older adults, adults with intellectual disabilities, and more. Being someone that is always looking at the ‘why’ of behaviors and actions, music therapy in psychiatric and mental health settings has always been an extreme passion of mine. I remember entering my first music therapy course and stating that I wanted to support individuals facing mental illness or unrest; and that statement continued to hold true throughout my coursework and into the present.
Following commencement, I began and completed my six-month music therapy internship at Fulton State Hospital, a high security forensic psychiatric hospital in Fulton, Missouri where I: led both group and individual music therapy sessions; led dialectical behavior therapy groups; and was the interim case manager for two individuals. In short: my internship experience was incredible. I learned so much about music; myself; the importance and types of validation; dialectical behavior therapy; various mental illnesses; etc. I am incredibly thankful to the team of music therapists that I was able to learn from and am more than thankful to the amazing clients who shared their time and insight with me daily. Of course, it was not all easy, and I am thankful for the challenges I faced both in and out of music therapy sessions as they helped to shape me into a stronger music therapist and person.
Something that my internship made incredibly clear to me was the need for resources and community outreach for individuals needing support in any community. That is why I am so thrilled to now be working for Rhythm Garden Music LLC, as Morgan Sparks, MT-BC (music therapist and owner), recognized the need for services in her community and decided to make a difference. I am more than excited to get to know the people I will be supporting and to learn even more through my experiences with them.
So, what is next? For me it is working at Rhythm Garden Music LLC and expanding my understanding of music therapy through my clinical work and in the Master of Arts in Music Therapy program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College where I will also be the graduate assistant for the program. I look at this new chapter of my life with hope and love as I feel it will be transformative.
10 FUN FACTS:
I love to play Xbox. My favorite games are Call of Duty: Warzone and Cold War; Fortnite; Apex Legends; and the Outlast games.
I love animals, cats are my favorite.
My favorite instrument to play is the trap set or djembe, and I still have a lot to learn.
My favorite kind of music to listen to is rap.
My favorite music artists are Khalid; Kendrick Lamar; Bad Bunny; Tyler, the Creator; and Drake.
My favorite song is ‘Learning to Fly’ by Pink Floyd.
My favorite food is paneer tikka masala from Taj Mahal in Terre Haute.
I was born in and spent my early childhood in Sevier County, Tennessee, the same area Dolly Parton is from!
I lived in Germany for a year as an Au Pair and am proficient in the German language.
I have traveled to nine countries and nine states.
