Where do you work and who are your clients?
My name is Brad Drozdowski and I’m a music therapist at Institute for Therapy through the Arts in Evanston and with RhythmWORKS in the DuPage area. I see a diverse caseload of groups and individuals all over the greater Chicagoland area. The populations I see the most are Autism, Developmental Disabilities, and stroke patients with aphasia.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is simply having the opportunity to make music with so many people and to witness first hand, every day the power music has to make change in their lives.
What inspired you to become a music therapist?
I found out about Music Therapy in high school; I was looking for a career that would combine my interest in psychology with my passion for music. When I discovered that Eastern Michigan University had a great program only 20 minutes from my hometown, I auditioned and enrolled in the program my for my first semester of college and never looked back.
What do you do for self-care?
My self-care typically includes some light meditation, cooking, composing, and reading philosophy on the train.
What’s once piece of advice you have for students or new therapists in the field?
I’m a new therapist myself, so my advice to those just entering the field or to students in their internship is to enjoy those final moments of becoming a music therapist. There really is no limit to what you can accomplish in this field once you cross that threshold, and that shouldn’t be scary. Take your time, take stock of how hard you’ve worked to become board-certified, and take your career into your own hands!