We believe in holistic therapy, which is characterized by acknowledging and caring for the needs of each individual as a whole person while treating expressed symptoms.
We strive to enrich the lives of others by creating an excellent environment for individuals to grow and thrive through music therapy.
Music therapy is the therapeutic use of music to address non-musical goals. It is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.Through active participation in therapeutic music experiences, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.
Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas, such as…
Music therapy can support individuals of all stages and abilities through active participation in therapeutic music experiences. There is no need for prior musical education, as the music therapist will facilitate meaningful individual experiences based on age, stage, and abilities.
"(Music therapy) can make the difference between withdrawal and awareness, between isolation and interaction, between chronic pain and comfort -- between demoralization and dignity." ~ Barbara Crowe
We use music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, social, communication, and behavioral needs of individuals. Below are common goals we address through music therapy.
Goals addressed:
Range of motion · Bilateral coordination · Motor planning · Gross motor skills · Fine motor skills · Balance
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Developing music skills for leisure time · Skills to gain access to community music group opportunities
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Attention · Memory · Reality orientation · Awareness · Pre-academics (colors, shapes, numbers, etc.) · Academics (math, reading, etc.) · Spatial awareness
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Social skills · Sharing · Turn-taking · Eye contact · Greetings · Listening · Waiting · Leadership · Following directions · Emotional expression · Emotional regulation · Self-esteem · Peer interactions
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Coping skills · Identifying emotions · Regulating emotions · Relaxation techniques · Nonverbal forms of expression · Grounding techniques · Social skills to facilitate appropriate intimacy and support
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Tolerance of change · Appropriate behavior · Positive interactions · Impulse control
Common interventions include:
Goals addressed:
Speech production (articulation, phonation, breath support) · Neurological development of speech · Supporting use of alternative communication aids · Appropriate conversation skills (turn taking, listening, responding) · Interpreting facial expressions
Common interventions include:
"We started working with Awake in Wellness awhile back as my daughter wanted to learn to play the violin. Jess became a huge part of our lives. I highly recommend Awake in Wellness for your music needs as Jess simply is the best! I give Jess five stars! Thank you Jess for all you do! We appreciate you!"
"My son loves going to music therapy with Jessica. She is great at connecting with him, always enthusiastic and encouraging. I love that she incorporates our belief and faith into her therapy when she can. She is really wonderful to work with."
"Jessica has been nothing short of an angel. My son has special needs and her ability to communicate and work with him as been a pleasure to witness. She has such a kind soul and pure heart. She has amazing energy. I am over the moon with the services Jessica has provided my son. 10/10 would recommend."
"My almost 3-year-old twins, one with Cerebral Palsy and the other with Sensory Processing Disorder, look forward to seeing Jessica every week! All of my children’s therapy goals are incorporated in a fun and engaging environment, and many of the activities taught can be done at home throughout the week. It has been one of our favorite forms of therapy!"
We’ll get to know each other and determine if it’s a right fit.
Shortly following the Complimentary Call, Jessica will provide you with a therapy package designed specifically for the needs discussed during the call.
We’ll spend time diving into your story and clarifying what brought you here and where you want to go. At this appointment, we will review the intake paperwork and check that off the list before beginning therapy.
The client will meet with a qualified music therapist that will take the time to assess the strengths and needs of each client. This finalized assessment will be available to parents on the portal (discussed during intake).
The qualified music therapist will provide therapy treatment.
Once the client has mastered a skill, we generalize it into everyday life.
We check in and determine what skills we’ve mastered and what skills we can continue to work on. From here, we determine additional treatment or how we can continue to support the client.
We are an evidence-based private practice. We are committed to staying current on research related to music therapy and using that research to guide clinical practice.
At Awake In Wellness, we go above and beyond to get to know our clients and their story – and that’s what sets us apart. We create impact and results in our clients’ lives by doing what we love; actively participating in music therapy.
Learn exactly how we can serve you or a loved one through Music Therapy.
Our approach is different. We’re music-inspired and goal-focused. We believe in a whole being approach where we care for your child as a whole person rather than treating expressed symptoms. We do this by getting to know your child’s story, understanding what makes them unique, and determining attainable goals that increase their overall wellness.
Whether your child loves music or is brand new to it, they’ll be sure to find the support they need through active participation.
Is Music Therapy Right for Your Loved One? Download our free guidebook to find out today!
Jessica Gremel, founder of Awake In Wellness Music Therapy, is a Certified Music Therapist with a heart for serving others through her work. Music has been an essential piece of Jessica’s life for as long as she can remember. It served as her own therapy during health issues and big life transitions and inspired passion within her faith. Today, she’s made a career by helping others do the same.
Jessica’s passion for awakening areas of her clients’ lives grew into Awake In Wellness Music Therapy and continues to shine through every day. Whether it be a social skill, anxiety, trauma, or developmental delays, Jessica uses the power of music to access and reach those darkened areas and awaken them to the light!
Jessica is the single parent of two amazing young kiddos! She loves spending time with family, drinking coffee in the morning, having game nights with her children, exploring Colorado, and reading a book at sunset. Aside from music, Jessica loves writing and publishing articles, blogs, and books.
We’re on a mission to serve others through music therapy and are committed to staying current in research and applying it to our everyday practice.
Mikayla Findley is a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) who brings warmth, insight, and clinical skill to every session. She holds a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Colorado State University.
Mikayla supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, tailoring each intervention to the individual’s strengths, needs, and goals. Earlier, as Life Enrichment Director at AltaVita Memory Care Centre, she specialized in dementia care and led programs that nurtured connection and wellbeing.
Her graduate thesis explored the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, deepening her understanding of how music shapes perception and emotional experience.
Compassionate, diligent, and person-centered, Mikayla leads with a gentle spirit. She is dedicated to making ethical, client-focused decisions that honor the dignity and potential of everyone she serves.
Sandra Vidal is a Board-Certified Music Therapist whose career spans a remarkable range of clinical settings. Over the years, she has worked with children who have special needs, teens in psychiatric care, and older adults navigating geriatric and dementia care.
Sandra’s experience is both broad and deep. She served as an Activity Therapist in the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit at Los Alamitos Medical Center and led group music therapy sessions for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at Sherrill House. In Denver, Colorado, she worked as a Music Therapist in the Teen Psychiatric Unit at Ft. Logan Psychiatric Hospital.
She completed her music therapy internship with Arts and Services for the Disabled, Inc., supporting adults with developmental disabilities. More recently, she provided memory care as a music therapist at Frasier Meadows, and she currently serves as Music and Activity Therapist at Centennial Peaks, working within acute psychiatric care and partial hospitalization programs.
Alongside these roles, Sandra has maintained a private music therapy practice for more than ten years, specializing in special needs and geriatric care.
Her approach is holistic, client-centered, and grounded in evidence-based techniques. Whether through songwriting, interactive group work, or one-on-one sessions, Sandra creates a structured environment where growth can take hold.
Sandra holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Berklee College of Music.
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