Therapy Services
Meet our Staff
Sarah Whitehouse MS, LMHCA, MT-BC – Carmel
Sarah Whitehouse is a board-certified music therapist and licensed mental health counselor at LittleStar. She received her bachelor’s in music therapy from the University of Dayton, and master’s in mental health counseling from Marquette University. Sarah has over 5 years of experience providing music therapy services through the Medicaid Waiver, working in center and community-based settings with individuals with intellectual and developmental delays. She is passionate about providing an integrative approach to music therapy focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, humanism, and music-centered creative play. Sarah enjoys engaging in self-care through reading, crocheting, yoga, live music, and exploring local coffee shops.
Carol Morris, MT-BC, NICU-MT – Carmel
Carol Morris has been practicing music therapist for 4 years. She graduated from Purdue Fort Wayne in 2021 and is currently completing her master’s degree in music therapy from Purdue Fort Wayne. Carol has experience working with many different clients ranging from inpatient pediatrics and NICU music therapy to hospice. Most notably she has spent a large portion of her career working with people of all ages with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Carol bases her music therapy work on developmental play and interpersonal relationships, focusing on developmental individual based relationships. Each session is based on the client’s strengths and preferences in music, in order to reach a client’s nonmusical-related goals. Outside of music therapy Carol enjoys reading, dancing, and spending time with her dogs, Dill Pickle and Baked Bean.
Cassidy Hyland, MT-BC, RBT – Carmel
Cassidy “Cassi” Hyland is a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). She has a background in psychology, music therapy, and ABA, and has worked with people of all ages across hospice care, early childhood, ASD, and mental and behavioral health. Cassi cares most about meeting people where they are and building real, meaningful connections. When she’s not working, Cassi usually is riding or showing horses, traveling, or doing a new DIY project. She loves staying busy, being creative, and spending time doing the things that make her happy in life.
Mattabesett Smith MT-BC, RBT – West Lafayette
Mattabesett Smith is a board-certified music therapist originally from Laurelville, Ohio. She studied music therapy at the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH. Mattabesett completed her internship at Bridgeway Academy in Columbus, OH. While at Bridgeway Academy she worked with kids and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Mattabesett is passionate about providing support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and advocating for them any way she can. When she is not being a music therapist, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, playing tennis, and watching a good T.V show.
Jeanine Garduno Miranda, MA, RBT – West Lafayette
Jeanine Garduno received her MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. She has worked in various roles during her time at LittleStar and brings 7.5 years of experience in the field working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays into her current role. Jeanine is currently a Behavior Management Clinician at LittleStar ABA Therapy through the Medicaid Waiver Services Department. Outside of LittleStar, Jeanine enjoys traveling to new places, spending time with family and friends, crafting, and hanging out with her cat, Panchito.
Jessica Baurer, CTRS – Newburgh
Jessica Baurer graduated from Murray State University in 2007 with B.S in Recreational Therapy and has been practicing for 17 years. In her interventions for therapy, she uses her past experiences in physical activities/sports, fine arts, outdoors and games/social experiences to help bring out unknown interests, discover new interests and expand current interests in the clients she serves while building social skills, self-confidence and mood regulation techniques to name a few. Jessica loves spending time with her husband outdoors, traveling, going to ballgames(baseball) and going to Broadway plays/musicals anywhere. While working at summer camps, Jessica was nicknamed “Skittles”
Music Therapy (MUTH)
Music Therapy is the evidence-based profession in which music is utilized within a therapeutic relationship to address specific goals. Music Therapy can address goals within areas such as fine and gross motor, communication, cognition, emotional and social skills.
Recreational Therapy (RETH)
NCTRC defines Recreational therapy as “a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activities as interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. Recreational therapy has wide-ranging positive impacts on your physical and mental health. This is especially the case when the therapy is designed around your interests and needs”
Behavior Management (BMGO)
Behavior Management Services supports individuals to use positive strategies to decrease the occurrence of unwanted behaviors. Utilizing these services can enhance an individual’s quality of life by increasing their independence and meaningful participation in the community.
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