Carissa is a native Calgarian who studied vocal performance during her under graduate degree and went on to pursue a Bachelors of Music Therapy (BMT) from Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Colombia. Her studies included counselling, improvisation, music theory, analytical music therapy, psychology and medical music therapy.

​

Since then Carissa has also attained her Addictions Studies Certificate from Mount Royal University in Calgary and has worked extensively with at risk youth in residential treatment settings, group home settings, and secure settings. Carissa also has experience working with children and adolescents with autism and developmental delays, children and adolescents with behavioural difficulties and specials needs in the school system, mental health and addiction, sexual exploitation and trauma, and the geriatric population living with dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson and other age related illnesses. Carissa also comes from a trauma informed background and uses this in her practice.   

 

Carissa is an accredited music therapist (MTA) in Canada, and a board certified music therapist (MT-BC) in the United States. Carissa is also a member of the Music Therapy Association of Alberta and the Canadian Association of Music Therapy.