Our Clinical Staff

Jennifer Craugh, MT-BC, WMTR, NMT-F™ (Clinical Operations Manager)

Jennifer is a board-certified music therapist who graduated from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana in 2014. Her primary instruments include flute, guitar, and ukulele. Jennifer is also a Neurologic Music Therapy® Fellow. Jennifer joined the LIH Team in 2016 and has enjoyed making the Driftless Area her home along with her husband, Will, their two children, and their cat, Lola. While Jennifer primarily works in a clinical role at LIH, her tasks also include completing billing and administrative tasks as needed. Outside of LIH, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, spending time outside, and playing card and board games with friends and family.

Andrea Halvorson, MA, MT-BC, WMTR, NMT-F™ (Director of Services)

Andrea is a board-certified music therapist who graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. She received her master’s degree in music therapy from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa and her internship was completed at West Music in Marion, Iowa. Andrea is a Neurologic Music Therapy® Fellow. Andrea grew up in Rushford, Minnesota and was delighted to return to the Driftless Region following her education. A couple of special people have joined her along the way in her journey to the Driftless Region, including her husband, Andrew, and her son, Adam. Andrea became passionate about pursuing music therapy following her experiences providing music enrichment for older adults and working as a personal care assistant for adults and children with developmental disabilities. Andrea’s primary instruments include voice, piano, clarinet, and guitar. Andrea also has the opportunity to provide support to new and existing client families at Life in Harmony Music Therapy, LLC to navigate their services.

Josie Hemesath, MT-BC, WMTR, NMT™

Josie is a board-certified music therapist who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa in 2023. She completed her internship at a private practice music therapy clinic in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2023 where she worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Her primary instruments include piano, trumpet, acoustic and electric guitar, voice, and ukulele. Josie has become a music therapist to help clients achieve a meaningful quality of life and reach their full potential. Outside of music therapy, Josie enjoys painting, sewing, crocheting, baking, and playing with her cat, Andromeda.

Sarah Kolander, MT-BC, WMTR, NMT-F™ (Clinical Education Coordinator)

Sarah is a board-certified music therapist who graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa with a double bachelor’s degree in music therapy and music education. Her primary instruments include piano, pipe organ, guitar, and ukulele. Sarah has the pleasure of providing clinical supervision for LIH clinicians, and she is proud to be a Neurologic Music Therapy® Fellow. Sarah is a Wisconsin native, having grown up on a dairy farm outside of Montello. She and her husband, Daniel, made the Coulee Region their home in 2011, and Sarah has been a part of the LIH Team ever since. Sarah enjoys directing her church choir, hiking at state parks with her husband, gardening, playing in the backyard with her children, Caleb and Cadence, and annoying her persnickety black cat, Bagheera.

Andrew Riederer, MT-BC, WMTR, NMT-F™

Andy is a board-certified music therapist who graduated from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. Andy grew up in Waunakee, Wisconsin and went to college at the University of Evansville, in which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy in spring 2011. Andy completed his clinical internship at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina with a focus on child/adolescent/adult/geriatric mental health populations. Andy worked as a music therapist at Georgia Regional Hospital of Savannah in the adult mental health population for four years before transitioning to working with developmental disorders and the hospice population via contract music therapy work in San Antonio, Texas for three years. Andy decided to move back to his home state of Wisconsin by joining the Life in Harmony team in January 2020, in which he has enjoyed developing his music therapy techniques using Neurologic Music Therapy® with clients of all ages throughout the Coulee Region. Andy specializes in songwriting, lyric analysis, music improvisation, and relaxation techniques in session and enjoys writing his own music in his free time. 

Our Administrative Staff

Amy Schaack, MT-BC, WMTR

Amy is a board-certified music therapist and the founder of LIH. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy. She completed her internship at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Amy grew up in Southwestern Wisconsin and returned to La Crosse to begin her profession as a music therapist. She started LIH in 2008 as a means of increasing access to music therapy with the Coulee Region. Her work started a small pilot project at a local hospital and then expanded into the community and surrounding areas. Amy’s primary instruments include piano, guitar, and voice and she has a special interest in songwriting.

Lily Blakley

Lily was born and raised with music, singing, playing, and appreciating all as a big part of her early and school years. She is excited to be even a small piece of the amazing work being done here at Life in Harmony. She attended Western Technical College in La Crosse, with a focus on marketing and business, and began her career in retail management. She hopes to bring a warm and smiling answer to initial inquiries, and another welcoming face to our lobby and front desk. Lily and her husband reside in La Crosse with their three dogs.  She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, and making other crafts as well as attempting to garden and cheering on her favorite sports teams.

We are currently looking to add additional board-certified music therapists to our growing team! To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and transcripts to connect@lihmt.com.