Creating a safe and empowering space for equality with – race, gender, sexuality, age, economic status, cognitive, physical, spiritual needs and those living with mental illness – through trauma informed care: music therapy, art therapy, dance/movement therapy and psychotherapy, to improve health and well-being.
Meet the Expressive Therapies Staff
Sara Devine owner and founder
MT-BC, LCSW, ICGC-II
Sara is owner and founder of Expressive Therapies LLC. Sara has 20 years of experience working with individuals and groups combining her passions of music and positive mental health together in her approach to optimize potential and promote wellness! Sara is a Board-Certified Music Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapy - Member, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and an International Certified Gambling Counselor - II. Sara is also in her final year of training to become a Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery, working specifically with the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music.
Through holistic, trauma-informed treatment – Sara loves being able to combine both music therapy with psychotherapy and has had the opportunity to work with all ages and a wide variety of populations including: traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, autism spectrum, medical diagnoses including cancer, cardiac and physical rehabilitation, cognitive disabilities, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, addictions, and mental health diagnoses including depression and anxiety due to situational stressors and/or chronic illness.
“My training in music therapy, neurologic music therapy and the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music is a wonderful tool to diversify my verbal therapy approach and one which I have found people can learn to use on their own. I love watching the power of music when it is combined with therapy, to bring patients to a deeper level of healing!”
Rachel Lofton
MT-BC, NMT-Member, AMTA Internship Supervisor
Rachel joined Expressive Therapies in September 2016. Prior to joining the Expressive Therapies team, Rachel lived in North Carolina and worked primarily with the psychiatric population. Since beginning at Expressive Therapies, Rachel has gained experience working with individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders, individuals in an oncology setting, and individuals who are incarcerated. Rachel continues to be passionate about working with the psychiatric population and seeing how music can have a positive impact on people who are admitted.
“I love how music has the power to reach into so many aspects of a person—everything from movement to cognition; from sound production to emotion recognition and regulation—music therapy can be a truly holistic experience!”
Tiffany Vollrath
MT-BC, NMT-Fellow, AMTA Internship Supervisor
Tiffany became a Board-Certified Music Therapist in 1998 and joined the Expressive Therapies team in 2017. Tiffany has practiced music therapy with a variety of ages and populations including: adult oncology, skilled nursing, Alzheimer’s and dementia, early childhood, pregnancy and childbirth, autism, and developmental disabilities. Tiffany is proud to be able to offer Neurologic Music Therapy as a service, completing training in Toronto, Canada in 2017 and becoming a Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow in November 2020. Besides being employed with Expressive Therapies, she has been a choir director with ARTS for ALL Wisconsin (formerly VSA) for over 20 years and enjoys providing music with the worship team at her church.
“Music Therapy is an amazing tool! I love that I can use music therapy interventions to offer my clients alternate ways to communicate and socialize, facilitate mood change, and to improve cognition, speech and motor skills. It’s so rewarding to see my clients enjoy the process, make progress and feel empowered!”
Pamela Andersen
MT-BC, NMT-Member, Wellness Advocate
Pamela is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist – Member. She joined Expressive Therapies in September of 2017. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a degree in Music Therapy and Elementary Education. She has enjoyed working with clients of all ages and abilities and has recently taken on a new role to provide support and wellness opportunities within the Expressive Therapies team. Pam is certified in SEVA Stress Relief through Soul Lightening Acupressure and Sound Massage I through the Peter Hess Academy. Pam is passionate about helping others lead a healthy, balanced life.
"May I live this day compassionate of heart, clear of word, gracious in awareness, courageous in thought,
generous in love." John O'Donohue
Jennifer LeVasseur
MT-BC, NMT-Member
Jennifer joined the Expressive Therapies team in January 2018. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with degrees in Music Therapy and English with Creative Writing. Jennifer enjoys working with a variety of clients, including: autism, developmental disabilities, hospice, Alzheimer's/dementia, Parkinson's, cancer, anxiety, and homelessness. She is passionate about both music and writing as creative, therapeutic outlets and loves being a part of the Expressive Therapies team!
"Music and language are so unique in their ability to creatively explore and express our individual thoughts and experiences. I love seeing how both outlets provide such incredible means for self-expression, processing, and growth for so many people."
JoAnna Ayala
MT-BC, NMT-Member
Joanna graduated in 2018 from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in Music Therapy, with a minor in Dance. Prior to joining the Expressive Therapies team in January 2019, JoAnna worked with children and adults of all ages and abilities throughout her coursework, including those with autism, Alzheimer's/dementia, and various developmental disabilities. She also completed an internship at a children’s hospital in Dallas, Texas, where she got to experience the medical side of music therapy. JoAnna is so excited to be in Wisconsin as part of the Expressive Therapies team!
“Two of my biggest passions in life are music and helping others. I’m so thankful to be in a field where I get to pursue them both. There is something so special about making music that is also making a difference in someone else’s life.”
Angie Danowski
MT-BC, NMT Member
Angie, a board-certified music therapist, neurologic music therapy – member, joined the Expressive Therapies team in December of 2019. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in vocal music before continuing to Western Michigan University to complete the music therapy equivalency program. She completed her internship through Music Therapy Services of Central Wisconsin, where she offered services to adults and children in Pediatric, NICU, Palliative, Oncology, and Neurorehabilitation units of Marshfield Medical Center. Throughout her coursework, Angie has had experience working with many different populations, including adults with Dementia, adults and children with developmental disabilities, and children with Apraxia of Speech. She is currently finishing her graduate work in music therapy and will be receiving her master’s degree of music therapy in June 2020.
“Music is an incredible therapeutic tool because it is a part of everyone’s lives and can have such deep meaning so people. It is so powerful, it can change neuropathways in the brain! I feel such joy when I see a client reach a goal, they never thought possible, sing when they are unable to speak, or express themselves in a new way through music. Music has always been a huge part of my life and sharing it in a way that helps someone achieve their greatest potential is incredible!.”
Kimberly Roltgen
ATR-P, LPC-IT
Kim joined Expressive Therapies in June 2020. Kim has earned her Master’s degree in Art Therapy, with an emphasis in Counseling from Mount Mary University in 2020 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Expressive and Therapeutic Arts from Marian University in 2017. Kim has worked with a variety of clients including individuals who struggle with mental health issues and drug abuse, children with disabilities, developmental and physical disabilities, skilled nursing, Alzheimer's, dementia and hospice care. Kim believes that creating art can be used to safely address challenges or topics in our lives. She strives to use arts in various forms to build strong therapeutic relationships with individuals to find a way to express themselves.
“I believe in the creative arts process to help individuals safely address challenges or topics in their lives.
I have witnessed – through creative arts – individuals were able to feel empowered through art making,
gain confidence in themselves and able to express their own beliefs.”
Victoria Novy
ATR-P, LPC-IT
Victoria is an art therapist who joined Expressive Therapies team in June 2020. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree and a Bachelor’s of Science- Psychology Degree. She then attended Mount Mary University to achieve her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy with a Concentration in Counseling. She believes the power of art therapy has the potential to be the stimulant for positive transformations, insights and internal/external changes that occur through meta-verbal communication. Her innermost goal as an art therapist and artist is to collaboratively create a holistic plan that fosters strength and empowers one to be your best self, all while showing compassion and empathy. She deeply enjoys working with and has experience with groups and individuals, families, adults, adolescents and children; with concerns within the following areas: identity exploration, life transformations, boundaries, anxiety, developmental disabilities, depression, suicidal ideation, trauma, relationship conflicts and is an ally for the LGBTQ community.
“Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” Carl Jung
Debbie Wagner
LCSW, SAC
Debbie Wagner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years experience in the areas of mental health, and drug and alcohol, assessment and treatment. Debbie has had the privilege of working with a wide variety of clients from teenagers to geriatrics both as a group and individual therapist, and social worker, in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She has direct experience in treating major mental illness, psychotic illness, personality disorders, depression, anxiety, behavior and substance addiction, and assessing risk competency issues. Debbie has served as a provider in addressing medical diagnoses including HIV, cancer, and chronic illness, utilizing a lifestyle medicine approach.
Debbie is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers - Wisconsin Branch
" I believe in a strengths-based, client-centered approach, which connects clients and their caregivers with community-based services, working with collateral providers for the best possible treatment outcome. Utilizing the arts in treatment not only supports long-term healing and growth, but provides tools for ongoing progress and stability."
Alyssa Thorp
MT-BC, NMT-Member
Alyssa is a board-certified music therapist who joined Expressive Therapies in April 2021. Alyssa graduated from University of Evansville in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in music therapy and a minor in psychology. Alyssa has experience working with groups and individuals in various settings and populations including pediatrics, inpatient mental health, schools, and geriatrics.
"" Music acts like a magic key to which the most tightly closed heart opens" ~ Maria von Trapp
Leah Brown
MT-BC, NMT-Member
Leah became a Board-Certified Music Therapist in 2017 and Neurologic Music Therapist – Member in 2019. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University and is thrilled to be joining the Expressive Therapies team in June 2021. Leah is passionate about the power of holistic health for a truly balanced life. Leah has practiced music therapy with a variety of ages and populations, including hospice/end of life, dementia/Alzheimer’s, physical disabilities, pediatric oncology, pediatric ICU, psychiatry, early childhood development, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
“Music is a means of giving form to our inner feelings without attaching them to events or objects in the world ” – George Santayana
Sandra Nett
ATR-P, LPC-IT
Sandra joined our team in July 2021. Sandra achieved her Master’s degree in Art Therapy, with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mount Mary University in 2021 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Expressive and Therapeutic Arts in 2018 at Marian University. Sandra is passionate about helping individuals progress and find a better quality of life. She believes in the power of art and creating experiences to promote self-expression and build coping skills within each person’s unique situation. Sandra specializes in fiber, two and three-dimensional art, as well as meditation and movement therapy. Sandra has worked with adults and children, with varied mental health diagnosis, autism, alcohol and drug addiction, and trauma survivors, in groups and individually.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.." Albert Einstein
Julie Foat
R-DMT
Julie joined Expressive Therapies in 2021 as a Dance Movement Therapist. Graduating in 2005, from Kent State University, with a degree in Special Education as an Intervention Specialist K-12 Mild/Moderate, she spent 8 years teaching after having the opportunity to complete student teaching in New Zealand. Julie taught as a middle school Resource Teacher in California, Oregon, and Hawaii and set up a Special Education program at 2 International Schools in the Philippines. Julie also has experience as a Family Literacy Teacher at an all- girls maternity residential home in Los Angeles. Becoming interested in Middle Eastern Dance styles in 1999 her love of movement, culture, and community lead her to seek to incorporate what she loves to do with her behavioral training and found Dance Movement Therapy. Graduating from Pratt Institute in 2020, with a graduate degree as a Dance Movement Therapist, she is eager to begin this work after interning at the Cleveland Clinic in the in-patient geriatric psychiatric unit and working with 0–5-year-old children at the Concord Community Music School in New Hampshire.
“ The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.” - James Brown
Kelsey Lambert
Music Therapy Intern
Kelsey completed her course work in May, 2020 from Queens University of Charlotte. She is completing her music therapy degree at Expressive Therapies as a music therapy intern. Kelsey had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients in individual and group settings while completing her course work. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages with autism, developmental disabilities, Intellectual disabilities, various mental health diagnoses, Alzheimer’s/ Dementia, and cancer patients. Kelsey is looking forward to learning more from the staff and clients at Expressive Therapies.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” -Plato
Irene Wald
Music Therapy Intern
Irene completed her coursework in May 2021 from Colorado State University. She is working on the final step of her music therapy degree as an intern at Expressive Therapies. In her coursework Irene gained experience working with a variety of populations including individuals with dementia, developmental disabilities, autism, and stroke. Irene enjoys building therapeutic relationships with her clients and helping them reach their goals through music. She is excited to grow and learn during her time at Expressive Therapies
“ Those who wish to sing, always find a song” - Swedish Proverb
Abigail Russell
Social Work Intern
Abigail is receiving her Masters in Social Work from University of Wisconsin Green Bay and is excited to be a counseling intern with Expressive Therapies. Abigail has worked for a variety of mental health settings with adults and adolescents including inpatient and non-profit agencies.
She believes in taking a variety of approaches in treatment of mental health and finding an individual approach for each client.
" Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does " - William James
Hope Kraut
Social Work Intern
Hope is a graduate from St. Norbert College with a major in Psychology and minor in Human Services. She is now finishing her last year of course material in her Masters of Social Work program at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She is completing her field portion of her studies at Expressive Therapies as a social work intern. Hope has worked as an ABA therapist for children with autism the past four years and hopes to expand her experience and gained knowledge to more populations. Hope enjoys working with adolescent and youth populations with autism, learning and/or developmental disabilities, and various mental health diagnoses. Her passion is being a consistent positive figure in individual's lives and having the ability to empower her clients. In her downtime she loves to read, write, workout, and spend time with family and friends. Hope is excited to expand her experience and education from the staff and clients at Expressive Therapies.
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide to not be reduced by them" ~Maya Angelou
Michael Casey
Professional Counseling Intern
Mike is in his final semester in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at UW-Oshkosh and is excited to be completing his internship experience at Expressive Therapies. Through his clinical coursework, he has gained experience working with a variety of populations including children, adults, college students, and those struggling with substance use. He enjoys collaborating with the different therapists on staff and having opportunities to combine his love of music with traditional psychotherapeutic approaches.
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” - Thomas Merton
Melissa Benson
BS/ACC
Melissa has been overseeing all administrative functions as Office Administrator with Expressive Therapies since April of 2018. Along with her Bachelor’s in Accounting, she brings over 20 years of customer care experience, an ability to achieve thorough-ness and accuracy when accomplishing tasks, and a personal passion for art and music. Melissa is a wife, a mother of three teenagers, and a labradoodle. On her down time, she enjoys yoga, working out/running, and being at home with her family.
"By combining your passion, your strengths, and personal experiences in your day to day life; not only will you continue to learn new things you will also find positive uplifting moments in each day!"
Sarah Freimuth
OTA/AAS
Sarah joined Expressive Therapies in 2020. She is a graduate of Fox Valley Technical College with an Occupational Therapy Assistant degree and certification in Autism Spectrum Disorder. With over ten years of experience in community mental health settings, she strives to empower others through strength-based and trauma-informed approaches. Some of her interests include DIY projects, rugby, nature adventures and performing arts.
""Everybody is talented because everybody who is human has something to express" ~ Brenda Ueland
