About Us
Our Mission
We know many people run into barriers that prevent them from having the quality of life (emotional, physical, and social well-being) they really want.
At Anderson Music Therapy Service we use evidence-based music therapy to empower our clients to overcome those barriers and be their best selves at home and in the community.
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Click the badge above to learn more about the rigorous process of becoming a board certified music therapist.
Noel Anderson, MMT, MT-BC
B.MUS / B.A. / MMT / MT-BC
Founder & Director, Board Certified Music Therapist
Neurologic Music Therapy Trained
Trauma Certified Professional
Certified Teacher of Music
Noel Anderson is the founder of Anderson Music Therapy Services and has been a board certified music therapist for over 14 years. She is a neurologic music therapist and certified trauma professional. She received a bachelor's degree in music therapy from Immaculata University after completing her clinical internship at Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy in Philadelphia. She earned a Master of Music Therapy degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Cassie Smith, MT-BC
B.MUS / MT-BC
Board Certified Music Therapist
Neurologic Music Therapist
Early Intervention Practitioner
Cassie is a board certified music therapist with a Bachelors's degree in Music and Music Therapy from Ohio University. During her music therapy studies she majored in vocal studies and minored in guitar and piano. She completed her internship at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, VA and has been trained as a Neurologic Music Therapist from the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. Cassie is certified as an early intervention practitioner. She has been with AMTS since 2016.
Our Music Therapy Team
Catherine Backus, MT-BC
B.MUS / MT-BC
Board Certified Music Therapist, Neurologic Music Therapist
Catherine Backus is a board certified music therapist and award winning songwriter. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at the University of Georgia and completed her Music Therapy internship with Four Seasons Hospice in Flat Rock, NC. She spent her early career working with older adults and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Adult Day setting. Catherine is a trained Neurologic Music Therapist through the the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. She has been with AMTS since 2017.
Rachel Lofton, MT-BC
B.MUS / MT-BC
Board Certified Music Therapist
Neurologic Music Therapy Trained
Rachel Lofton is a board-certified music therapist in her 11th year of practicing. Rachel graduated from Johnson University with a degree in music, and then completed the music therapy equivalency (along with some Master’s level classes in music education) at East Carolina University. She completed her internship at St Elizabeths Hospital in Washington,D.C. working with civilly-committed and forensic psychiatric patients. She has training in Neurologic music therapy and She has extensive experience working with diverse individuals across various settings, including in-patient psychiatric hospitals, private practices, and a wide age range from children to older adults.
Kyler Jackson
B. MUS
Music Specialist
Neurologic Music Therapy-Trained
Kyler is a music therapy graduate with advanced training in neurologic music therapy from the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at Radford University, while minoring in psychology. She completed her Music Therapy internship at Prisma Health in Columbia, SC where she worked with behavioral care, medical, and NICU patients.
Our Guiding Principles
A Note from the director:
When I moved to Roanoke in 2011 I quickly noticed the challenge families had in getting services for their children. I created Anderson Music Therapy to fill that need and be a resource in helping families find the support they need within this community.
Serving people with diverse needs, birth through older adult, is my passion. And for me, part of serving those individuals is also supporting their families. We exist to be a community and support system for families in SW Virginia.
Seeing our empowered and hopeful families continues to fuel my passion!
Noel Anderson
Founder & Director of Anderson Music Therapy
