Biographies of the Therapists
Elija is pleased to introduce to you, the talented staff that will be facilitating our sibling support groups.
Program Coordinator: Margaret Carlock, ATR-BC, LCAT
Our Art therapist:
Margaret Carlock, ATR-BC, LCAT, is a registered, board certified, licensed creative arts therapist with over 13 years of experience providing individual and group therapy, therapeutic workshops, professional development and lectures on creative arts therapy theory and practice. Ms. Carlock has created several art therapy programs since obtaining her Master’s Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University in 1995. Although Ms. Carlock has experience working in a variety of settings, her passion lies in working with children with special needs and their families. In 1996, Ms. Carlock began an art therapy program for The Children’s Learning Center of United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County, Inc. The program has grown over the years and now serves over 200 students. In addition to working as an art therapist at The Children’s Learning Center, Ms. Carlock is also an Assistant Principal there. Holding an administrative position in the school has been a wonderful learning experience for Ms. Carlock. She now uses the skills she has obtained as an administrator, to further develop creative arts programs for children with special needs in new locations.
Ms. Carlock also holds a graduate level teaching position at Hofstra University in the Creative Arts Therapy Program and maintains a private practice working with individuals with special needs as well as providing supervision to professionals working toward their ATR and licensure.
Ms. Carlock is active in the New York Art Therapy Association; she has been a board member for several years, holding various positions including treasurer and recording secretary.
About Art Therapy:Art therapy uses the creative process to foster self-awareness and personal growth. Children can particularly benefit from the process of clinical art therapy as it incorporates verbal and non-verbal expressions with art experiences. In a non-threatening and fun way, children can explore issues and concerns they may have but may not have the words to express. Coping skills are developed through the process of creating art and can then be transferred to other life situations.
From The American Art Therapy Association:
Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating art and talking about art and the process of art making with an art therapist, one can increase awareness of self, cope with symptoms, stress, traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic creativity.
Our Music Therapist
Jennifer Munro MT-BC, LCAT (Music Therapist-Board Certified, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist) graduated from S.U.N.Y. Fredonia with a B.S. in Music Therapy. After completing her internship at Just Kids Learning Center, servicing to students that were diagnosed at risk, multiplied disabled, autistic, learning disabled as well as typically developing children from ages 0-5 years, she worked in several settings as a music therapist. As an on-staff music therapist for Family Residential and Essential Enterprises (F.R.E.E.), she worked in an adult day treatment setting servicing adults with duel-diagnosis of mental retardation and mental illness. At this site she established a rhythm ensemble that performed in concerts. Ms. Munro worked as a part-time, temporary music therapist for The Kramer Learning Center. There she worked with integrated classes of students with speech delays and typically developing children.
Currently, Ms. Munro is the full time Music Therapist for The Children’s Learning Center, which is affiliated with United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc. She originated the program in September of 1998 and it has been growing ever since. The Children’s Learning Center provides services to approximately 200 children between 2 and 21 years with a broad range of disabilities and backgrounds, including speech/language delays, physical disabilities and mental retardation.
The music therapy program provides services to all the students within the school. Each session is specifically designed to address the educational and therapeutic needs of the individual students. Several students receive Individual Music Therapy and goals are addressed as a related service on the I.E.P. The school holds winter and spring concerts each year that every student participates in. The CLC Chorus (established 9/99) sings in several concerts and venues throughout the year including graduation ceremonies and special performances.
About Music Therapy: Music therapy is an alternative approach to the pursuit of various therapeutic and educational goals. This individualized and interdisciplinary approach allows children to participate to the fullest of their ability. The components of music therapy are structured to complement related therapies in such a way so as to increase focus, retain attention, develop body awareness with fine and gross motor skills, increase socialization and communication, as well as to allow children to enjoy themselves in a non-threatening environment.
The Objectives of our program
The Elija Foundation Creative Arts Sibling Support Program focuses on providing an opportunity for siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to come together in a creative and welcoming environment to explore issues and/or concerns they may have in their lives. Sessions will be facilitated by licensed creative arts therapists and will be geared toward meeting the needs of the children in each group.
For the youngest participants, the experience will provide either an opportunity for quality time with a parent or caregiver while engaging in a creative and developmentally appropriate activity or an opportunity to engage in art or music making in a setting that allows for self-expression and exploration of materials.
Elementary age and adolescent participants will have the opportunity to discover the possibilities of creative expression while gaining insight into their own lives and the lives of their family members.
