Hello! My name is Deborah Gromack. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and am licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am also a nationally board-certified Music Therapist. I attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received my Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Psychology in 1988. During that time, I was a research assistant and worked on studies examining the relationship between mothers and their infants. After receiving my degree, I worked as a teacher within the public school system and as a civil rights and fair housing advocate and helped to start a HUD funded organization which promoted fair housing practices. During one of the organization’s multi-cultural music benefits, I was moved by the music’s power to bring people of different social, economic and cultural backgrounds together. I wanted to do this kind of wonderful work on my own, but I didn’t know that I could and so I didn’t believe that I could. Soon after, I received a brochure about Music Therapy in the mail and became intrigued and so I began to research the profession. I discovered that Music Therapy was an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals (musictherapy.org/AMTA, 5/22/20). I decided to enroll in a Master’s degree program in Expressive Therapies with a concentration in Music Therapy at Lesley University. During my training as a Music Therapist, I worked with children who were diagnosed with developmental delays, children who were war refugees, older adults who were dealing with health issues and issues around aging, and older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. I graduated with my Master’s degree in Expressive Therapies with a concentration in Music Therapy from Lesley University in 1998. My education qualified me to take the exams for both Licensed Mental Health Counselor and board-certified Music Therapist and I’ve been certified in both since 1998. Since that time, I have worked as a Music Therapist, Expressive Arts Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor with older adults and adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, Children and Adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children and Adults with various developmental delays. In my practice as a Mental Health Counselor, I have worked with children, young adults and adults who are dealing with a variety of issues ranging from depression, anxiety, family issues, to major life changes and trauma. It has been my experience that the expressive or creative arts therapies provide a person with a ‘safe container’ for thoughts and emotions which are difficult to hold and express. Music, art, poetry, theatre, storytelling and writing help us to clarity and to express those things which are difficult to express in any other way. My clinical orientation is as a client-centered therapist. In seeking out help, you are taking an important step in advocating for yourself. I believe that you, the client, are the one who directs the therapeutic relationship. I fully acknowledge that seeking therapy is a powerful action and that it requires trust. You are opening yourself up to being seen and heard within a relationship with another person. You are the one who decides to take this step and it is important to acknowledge this. I’ve told you a bit about myself because I have come to learn, both personally and professionally, that the stories which we tell influence our thoughts, our feelings, beliefs, intentions and actions in the world. Our stories shape our reality, they define where we are at. My clear intention is to meet you exactly where you are at and to offer help to you using the creative arts to assist you and it is entirely up to you if we decide to use them. Please contact me if you are interested in working with me. I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Deborah Gromack, M.A., MT-BC, LMHC