Natausha Despain

Mrs. Natausha Despain is a Board Certified Music Therapist. She began her studies in medicine and psychology at Brigham Young University. She completed her studies, graduating cum laude at Utah State University. She served as a Music Therapy intern at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) in Salt Lake City, UT. While there, she gained experience in program development, creating an assessment tool for expressive therapies, leading group and individual therapy with geriatrics, adults, and adolescents. She implemented the first music therapy program for the adolescent unit. She also gained experience in leading cognitive music therapy groups, self-esteem groups, music psychotherapy, one-on-one relaxation and imagery sessions with goals focusing on stress reduction, increasing ability to self-soothe, mood improvement using the ISO-principal, crisis intervention to soothe and relax individuals requiring restraints and isolation. The population served included Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Eating Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders.

Mrs. Despain spent four years contracting with Encore Senior Behavioral Health in Woods Cross, UT. Program goals consisted of stress reduction, reality orientation, mood improvement, and improving and increasing self-help skills and ability to self-soothe. While here, she helped raise awareness of music therapy programs available to this population, presenting at several senior retirement facilities, as well as the local government’s adopt-a-grandparent program, and the Women’s Health Fair. She has also presented with The Resiliency Institute For Personal Growth, emphasizing the importance of music in mind/body medicine and resilience of the human spirit.

Mrs. Despain enjoys using Chakra toning and music and imagery for relaxation. She has utilized these forms of relaxation extensively in her internship, work experience, music therapy workshops, as well as in her home. She spends her free time practicing and teaching karate, violin, piano, guitar, and playing with her kids. She also enjoys singing with the Sterling Singers during the Christmas and Summer Seasons.

taushasmusic@msn.com

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