Creating Safe, Musical Spaces for Growth with Emily Ross

Emily Ross joins me to explore the magic of music therapy and its role in helping children thrive. We talk about the importance of safe environments, the power of improvisation, and how music supports emotional regulation, communication, and connection. Emily also shares why parent involvement is essential, and how consistent, child-led music experiences can lead to real breakthroughs.

Emily Ross, MA, MT-BC, began her professional career in rural Benton County public schools teaching general music, choir, and band to students K-12. After seven years, Emily recognized that many of her students had needs that she couldn’t address in the music classroom. She was moved to find a way to address those emotional and cognitive needs by pursuing an advanced degree in music therapy.

Emily received her MA in counseling psychology/music therapy from Naropa University in 2003. Her emphasis throughout her master's program was on autism, culminating in her master's paper, entitled: Music Therapy as an Appropriate Intervention in Improving Communication and Relationship Skills in Individuals with Autism.

For 13 years, Emily ran her private music therapy practice, Self Express Music Therapy Studio, and served as adjunct faculty in music therapy at Marylhurst University. From 2015-2018, she held a full-time position at Marylhurst as Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor of music therapy.

Emily is excited to be back in private practice full-time while developing her dream of combining horses and music therapy with Hoofnhorn Music Therapy.

Emily lives in Portland with her husband, Ted, and their cat, Nutmeg. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, quilting and singing. She played French horn in the Portland Wind Symphony for 18 years, and is now learning to play Celtic harp.

Music Therapy experience includes:

• 20 years in Private Practice (individuals and small groups)
• 5 years Private School: Victory Academy (year-round school for children with autism)
• 2+ years Public School: Salem Keizer School District, Clackamas ESD, Portland Public Schools
• Summer Camps: Creative Arts Day Camp (Marylhurst’s summer program for those with and without special needs)

Prior to graduate school, Emily spent 27 months teaching English as a Foreign Language in the former Soviet republic, Kyrgyzstan, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Being the first American to live in her village, she developed a deep compassion for the frustrations of limited communication skills.