August 24, 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in support of the high quality of services provided to special needs children by Creative Exchange Music Therapy. I have had the pleasure of working closely with the music therapists since clinical groups began at Kaleidoscope, Inc. in November 1998 and can readily attest to a myriad of skills and strengths.

The therapists clearly embody the positive aspects of the field of psychology in terms of professionalism and knowledge base, empathy and caring for others, and a willingness to go the extra mile to be of service to clients. Although they have clear boundaries, they work to advocate for and engage the most difficult children, adolescents, and their families, empowering through respect and helping many to work up to and realize their potential.

Honest, intelligent, and of strong character, the clinician’s integrity speaks for itself. They have learned to navigate and mediate the child welfare and educational system and are intimately versed in a diversity of musical techniques and skills. I have had the opportunity to observe music therapy groups and have found the professionals diagnostic and clinical skills to be extremely well developed. I have been impressed with their ability to gather and integrate large amounts of information, listen with a thoughtful ear, carefully formulate their own impressions and opinions, and present data in an objective, clear, and forthright manner. They thrive on hard work and are not afraid of difficult issues. The staff employed at Creative Exchange Music Therapy model these positive attributes to the clients and families they serve. They are quite comfortable and adept at functioning autonomously. However, they are appropriately aware of boundaries and seek consultation as needed. Their ability to focus in on the relevant issues in even the most chaotic and challenging of cases has resulted in being sought out for consultation by fellow professionals.

As you can see I recommend the services of Creative Exchange Music Therapy without reservations. Not only are the professionals intelligent, competent, talented, and creative, they are well liked, have good communication skills, and are respected by all that work with them. They would bring to your program empathy, ethical awareness, enthusiasm, and a commitment to continued learning and growth. Please contact me with additional questions or for further information. I can be reached at (773) 278-7200 ext. 294.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tami Gaskins, LCPC

Lead Team Supervisor