North Star Therapy

Music has a way of finding some of our deep and unspoken words. Working with a can give space for your story to unfold in a setting that supports you. ​​​​​​​​
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Music is an excellent tool for giving yourself or your family a voice. 🗣️​​​​​​​​
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Contact us to hear more about and how it may help! ​​​​​​​​

July is and after the isolation throughout the pandemic, it couldn't be more necessary!

We are thankful to have a team that enjoys and prioritizes their social life both at work and in their personal lives. How are you taking care of your social life this month? We want to hear from you!

weekend to you and your families!

We want to remind you that our offices will be closed on Monday. We look forward to hearing from you the following day.

Have a safe and fun

North Star Therapy updated their phone number.

North Star Therapy updated their phone number.

So excited to announce that we are now providing IN PERSON music therapy services again! 😍💥💪🥳



As we value holding safe spaces for our clients, we will also continue to monitor the COVID situation and follow CDC recommendations, and adjust our services as needed in the future. Thank you for continuing to support us as we have been navigating the pandemic.

Free music therapy group for kids?! YES please! As of this post, they still had a few spots left! 🎉🤩♥️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Are you as excited 4️⃣ fall groups as we are? 😉

Even more exciting than fall groups being just four days away, we've received a grant that will allow us to cover tuition for up to TWENTY fall group participants!

Just email [email protected] for information about tuition assistance.

Learn more about Self-Care for Caregivers and Music and Wellness for Kids and register here:
https://www.heartandharmony.com/fall-groups/

What’s it like to be a music therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are three examples from our team:

1) Zooming and more zooming! Since mid March we have been 100% virtual, including therapy sessions, team meetings and networking.

2) Self care to the max (which means long weekends 🎉) Our team is struggling with the impacts of the pandemic even as we are supporting clients and families struggling with this same stress. Because of this greater need for self care time, we reduced our work days to 4 days a week. (Tuesday through Friday). Aaaaaaand we love it.

3) Hello learning curve. Wow have we learned so much in the last four months about technology and how to design telehealth interventions! One of our projects is compiling virtual music therapy interventions and best practices to make session planning easier on the whole team.

4) Unexpected growth. Uncertainty is still the name of the game, but our practice (against all odds) continues to grow! Our employees are adding hours, and the referrals keep coming. It feels crazy to be trying to shift back into a growth mindset while the pandemic continues, but we are doing it.

How are you adjusting to working during the pandemic?

44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country

https://www.self.com/story/black-mental-health-resources

44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country Because we need and deserve support.

I know that many of you who follow North Star Therapy are music therapists and/or business owners. Every day that we go out (or Zoom out) into our communities, we influence our employees, our teams, our clients and our communities. That influence is informed not just by our good motives, but also our unconscious biases (whether we like it or not).

Today, I'll invite you to join me in signing up for a free anti-racism training. Yes, it's a commitment. And yes, it's way past time we made space for it - me included. Links are in the comments.



-- Esther Craven, CEO & Founder, Music Therapist

These names represent our community, our clients and families, the people we serve.


As music therapists, we know the importance of hearing the voices of the silenced. We feel it is important for us to use our resources, education, and positions to demand justice for these violent tragedies with the understanding that they are only the most recent indicators of a broader system of oppression that has existed for centuries.


We see you.
We see what’s happening.
We are listening.
We will help.
We will stand with you.





In the coming days, we will be posting anti-racism resources and ways to make a difference. We invite you to join us in taking action.


Art by Shirien Darma (IG: .creates)

Join us in the effort to of COVID-19. You're invited share your dedication to the cause by using this lovely facebook frame created by our very own Elizabeth Carr-Jones!

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In response to COVID-19 coronavirus, beginning 3/17 our music therapy services will be provided 100% virtually! Below is an official letter from our CEO & Founder, Esther Craven, regarding this decision.

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"March 14, 2020

Dear clients and families,

As the COVID-19 coronavirus situation continues to escalate, we realize the most responsible decision we can make for our therapists and clients is to eliminate in-person therapy services at this time. Our hope is that this voluntary social distancing will benefit our community as a whole by helping to “flatten the curve” regarding the spread of this virus, prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed, protect those who are most vulnerable to the virus, and ensure each person who contracts COVID-19 can receive the care and treatment they need.

We also recognize that during this health crisis, our own clients’ needs for psychological and emotional support continue. As such, it is our priority to continue providing high quality, specialized mental health care for you during this time. Beginning Tuesday, March 17th, North Star Therapy’s music therapy services will be transitioning to virtual telehealth services. Our therapy software (TheraNest) has secure, encrypted, and HIPAA compliant, telehealth video conferencing capabilities, and we will begin offering virtual appointments to you as soon as possible.

As the use of telehealth for music therapy will be new to many of us, we’ll ask you to join us in this transition with patience and curiosity. Research evidences that virtual therapy has benefits that are on par with traditional therapy. However, we realize that some of our clients will prefer in-person services, and we look forward to when we are able to begin safely providing clinic based and home based services again.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns regarding this update. Thank you, and stay well –

Esther Craven, MT-BC
CEO & Founder, Music Therapist
North Star Therapy

214-929-0410 (cell)
469-991-5846 x101 (work)
[email protected]
www.ntxtherapy.com "

I cannot overstate the gratitude I feel for this incredible team. It’s been a year of immense growth, growing pains, growing joys and these compassionate, dependable and hardworking folks backed the cause 200%. Autumn, Kevin, Lea, Malley, Elizabeth and Heather - thank you so much. I can’t wait to dive into the new year with you.

Happy holidays from all of us at North Star Therapy! We hope your new year begins with good health, good company, good memories and good music. 🎄❄️☃️

- Esther Craven, Founder & CEO

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Happy to announce that our newest team member is Kevin Bock, MT-BC! Kevin recently moved back to the Dallas area after completing his internship at Austin State Hospital. He has a passion for working with kids and teens with mental health challenges, and in addition to the regular instruments, Kevin also plays viola. Pictured: The first ever photo that the team has taken together. Join us in welcoming Kevin!

Meet the current North Star Therapy team! On the top you have our therapists, Esther and Autumn, and on the bottom our music therapy students, Malley and Lea. BUT WAIT there's more 🙂. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about our newest team member! ⁠
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Would you like to learn more about job opportunities at North Star? Send us a DM and we'll connect! ⁠
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"There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there's grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become" -- Michelle Obama

How do you allow your voice to be heard? What's something you feel passionate about speaking up about?

Having a sense of agency, control, and freedom is important to mental health. What does mean to you?

Happy fourth!

Self expression and connection. Two things that I’ve learned are VITAL to mental health, but are so often overlooked.

Who is in your tribe? Who can you reconnect with? Sometimes that person is as obvious as a sibling or family member, other times a colleague from a place you used to work, or someone with whom you shared that weird philosophy project junior year...

Make the call. Send the text. Even if it feels scary.

I’ll be here cheering you on, and hanging out in DMs if you want to chat.

Pictured: My favorite person in the world.

We've reached 300+ likes!! THANK YOU ALL for the love.

Are you intentional with the music you listen to? Try this short exercise to boost your mental health and wellness.

Permission granted. Ask us ANYTHING. (Direct message recommended!)

Your Mental Health Tip of the week: Get some AIR.

We want to know! How do YOU use music for your mental health and wellness? Let us know in the comments!

(Bonus points if you share a song!)

Here's our mental health tip of the week! PROTECT. YOUR. SLEEP. 💙

We are looking to connect not only with folks who are looking for mental health services, but also other providers of music therapy and mental health services. We would LOVE to meet you! Send us a message to schedule coffee.

Meet music therapist Esther Craven! Esther is the founder and CEO of North Star Therapy. She got interested in music therapy as a teenager, while caroling at nursing homes. Today, Esther specializes in addressing mental health needs, including anxiety and self confidence! You can reach her by email: [email protected].

Meet AUTUMN LANGSTON, MT-BC! Autumn specializes in music therapy for mental health, specifically helping our clients with self-awareness and social skills. Autumn started with the North Star Therapy team at the end of last year, and is already making a HUGE difference with our clients and families. Join us in giving Autumn a big Facebook-official WELCOME!

Meet LEA. A music therapy student at SMU, Lea has been with the North Star Therapy team since December of 2018. When our clients want additional music services outside of therapy, Lea steps in! Join me in giving LEA a big "Facebook official" welcome!

Heyo!! Tinographics freshened up our logo! What do y'all think?

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PS. Stop whatever you're doing right now, and go like the Tinographics FB page. The posts. Are. Awesome.

YES we often use instrumments in music therapy! We use guitar, ukulele, piano, djembes, and, of course, voice. No experience required.

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http://www.ntxtherapy.com

For our final Week post, we're giving a SHOUT OUT to all you courageous souls who have shared your stories this week. 👏

Over and over again we see that when our clients have support from folks who have been there, from their communities, from friends, from families, from loved ones, that those are the folks that are able to overcome and heal. Thank you for being vulnerable, for speaking your truth, for encouraging someone else to share their own story and be supported.

Thank you for being the community that lets folks know they don't have suffer alone, and that they can get better. You are amazing.

Week

What music do you know that addresses body image?

Let us know in the comments!

Friday is for Families! Today for , we are sharing a link that will pull up all of the Dallas based eating disorder support groups that are listed on Psychology Today. You can also search for your specific zipcode, city and state. Here ya go!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/eating-disorders/tx/dallas

Eating disorder treatment: Know your options

What does treatment for an eating disorder look like?



According to the Mayo Clinic, your treatment team will likely include mental health professionals, dental and medical professionals, a dietician, AND family and loved ones. Treatment can range from hospitalization to outpatient treatment.



At North Star Therapy, we get to provide music therapy for clients who are struggling with eating disorders, and often use voice work and singing to address the treatment team's goals.





https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/in-depth/eating-disorder-treatment/art-20046234

Eating disorder treatment: Know your options Treatment depends on your eating disorder and symptoms, but it's typically a combination of psychotherapy, nutrition education and, if needed, medications.

Weight Stigma. It's an issue. Check out this infographic by the National Eating Disorder Association, and then take their challenge to fight weight sigma.



Take on the challenge HERE: http://neda.nationaleatingdisorders.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=14492