As the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services at a Veterans Affairs facility in Virginia, I oversee professionals providing a variety of therapeutic interventions (PT, OT, KT, MT, RT, SLP, and others).  I feel that instituting a licensure process is vital to the field of Music Therapy as interventions in the field are as unique/important/specialized as the current licensed therapy disciplines in our State.  Music Therapists have education preparation and knowledge in providing treatment for patients with PTSD, substance use disorder, neurological disorders, speech and language disorders, and mental health disorders.  

State licensure elevates the profession by ensuring that only those individual practitioners who meet the industry standards and maintain competence with continuing education are practicing in Virginia.  It promotes public trust in the quality care that our Music Therapists provide.  The people of this great Commonwealth deserve no less.