Therapists & Staff

Clinical Director / Neurologic Music Therapist
Jenni Rook, MT-BC, LPC
Jenni received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Therapy from Western Illinois University after completing her undergraduate clinical internship at Giant Steps Illinois, Inc., a therapeutic day school for children with Autism. Jenni obtained a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Chicago. She also possesses a certification in Neurological Music Therapy (NMT). Her clinical work with children and adults has primarily been conducted in medical settings including the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago addressing both psychological and physical needs of clients. Jenni’s expertise includes using music in speech rehabilitation and in counseling for children and adults coping with trauma, anxiety and medical conditions. She also has several years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Jenni is a member of the American Music Therapy Association, the Illinois Association for Music Therapy, the Illinois Task Force for State Recognition of Music Therapy, the Robert Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy, the New York Academy of Sciences and the Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach.

Adminstrative Director
Amber Bond
Amber received her Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Psychology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Following eight years of experience running non-profit organizations in Iowa and Chicago, Amber joined the staff of ITA. She has more than a decade of training as a classical singer, and has most recently sung with the Music Institute Chorale.

Founding Director and Clinical Consultant
Marilyn “Toddy” Richman, MEd, RDT-BC
Toddy is the founding director of ITA and one of the founders of the National Association of Drama Therapy. She received her Masters of Education from the National College of Education and completed the Teacher Education Program at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. For many years she was a stage and TV actress, and she has taught drama therapy courses at Columbia College and National-Lewis University. She served as Registry Chair for NADT and has presented workshops and papers for twenty-three annual conferences. During her time at ITA, she has provided drama therapy for preschool and grade-school children, adolescents, and the elderly. She is currently working as a Clinical Consultant to the ITA staff.

Intake Coordinator / Art Therapist
Leslee Pollakoff Goldman, MA, ATR-BC
Leslee received a BFA in Art Education at the University of Illinois at Champaign, and she is certified to teach art to kindergarten through twelfth grade. She earned her Master’s degree in Art Therapy at George Washington University before going on to complete the Teacher Education Program at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. Leslee began her professional career as an art therapist at a therapeutic day school, and began working at ITA after school hours. In her thirty years of clinical work, she has treated children, teens, and adults, and she presents locally and nationally at art therapy conferences and organizations. Leslee is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds professional memberships with the American Art Therapy Association and the Illinois Art Therapy Association. When she isn’t working, Leslee enjoys drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and textiles.

Director of Music Therapy/ Inclusion Coordinator / Neurologic Music Therapist
Jeffrey Wolfe, MT-BC
Jeff received his Bachelor of Arts in Percussion from the University of Akron in 2005 and attended Ohio University for his Master’s of Music in Music Therapy with an emphasis in counseling (projected completion, June 2011).  He completed his clinical internship at Creating Connections Company, LLC, a private practice specializing in interventions for children with autism and developmental disorders.  He holds the Neurologic Music Therapy certification from the Center for Biomedical Research in Music in Colorado.  During his time at Ohio University, Jeff served as a clinical supervisor for music therapy students, was awarded the Christine K. Stevens development award, presented nationally and regionally, and held the Great Lakes Regional Student positions of Student Representative, Vice-President, and President.  He is a founding member, administrator, and previous director of Kids Town Child Development Center in Brunswick, Ohio.   Jeff has facilitated drum circles and worked as a solo artist for the past decade.  Some of his credits include performing with the Capital Regiment and Blue Coats Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Grammy nominated University of Akron Steel Drum Band.  He is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association, and the Ohio Association for Music Therapy.

Assistant Director of Music Therapy / Neurologic Music Therapist
Rebecca West, MM, MT-BC

Rebecca received both her Bachelor Equivalency and Master of Music degrees in Music Therapy at Michigan State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Bethel College. She completed her clinical internship at Giant Steps Illinois, Inc., a therapeutic day school for children with Autism. She holds the Neurologic Music Therapy certification from the Center for Biomedical Research in Music in Colorado. Rebecca has served as an internship supervisor for both Music Therapy undergraduate students and Music Therapy interns. Rebecca’s clinical experience includes work with adults and children with neurological disorders, developmental disabilities, Autism, and socio-emotional needs. Rebecca has presented on Music Therapy to a non-public school for Autism, an Early Intervention Program, and a high school. She is a member of the American Music Therapy Association and the Advocates for Music Therapy Education.

Director of Art, Drama and Dance Movement Therapy / Operation Oak Tree Coordinator / Drama Therapist
Katherine Dillingham, MA, RDT

Katherine is a graduate of NYU's Drama Therapy program. From 2007-2009 she was a case manager and clinician at a Continuing Day Treatment Center in Queens, NY, facilitating group and individual therapies for adults with mental illness who also manage an intellectual disability. At ITA she serves adults with mental illness and chemical addiction, moms and kids who are victims of domestic violence and older adults. She oversees programming logistics, protocol design and implementation for Operation Oak Tree, ITA's programming for military families throughout the deployment cycle. Katherine holds a BFA in theatre performance and is a founding member of Parallel45, a Northern Michigan theatre company (parallel45.org).

Director of Training / Music Therapist
Pan Ho, MT-BC

Pan graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology. While attending UD, he was one of the recipients of the UD scholarships for international students. He gained clinical practica experience in educational, psychiatric, geriatric and community settings while at UD. As a past music therapy intern at ITA, he worked with a variety of populations in different settings, including a variety of diagnoses: mental illness, autism, cognitive impairment, developmental delays, etc. He obtained his board certification from the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) and training in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (Level 1) from the Therapeutic Arts Institute. He previously worked in Indianapolis, Indiana as a music therapist to work with individuals with special needs through the state Medicaid waiver. In 2010, Pan returned to the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) as a full time music therapist. He also functions as the Director of Training to oversee creative arts therapy internship programs, supervise music therapy interns and coordinate the volunteer program. Pan is currently a member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and Illinois Music Therapy Association (IMTA). As a native from Hong Kong, Pan is also biliterate and trilingual (English, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese).

Drama Therapist
Keith Whipple, MA
Keith graduated from DePaul University’s Theater School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. He earned a Master’s degree in Therapeutic and Educational Drama from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Keith performed and conducted drama workshops in correctional institutions throughout North America, England, Scotland and Ireland with Geese Theater Company, and has used theater techniques to work with Chicago’s immigrant population. Keith completed his training at the Psychodrama Training Institute of Chicago and interned at Columbia Lakeshore Hospital. He is a veteran stage actor who performs and teaches improvisation at Chicago’s ComedySportz Theatre.

 Music Therapist
Meredith Harvey, MT-BC
Meredith received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degrees from Southern Methodist University. She graduated in 2010 and moved to San Diego, California to complete her music therapy internship with MusicWorx Inc. During her internship, Meredith gained clinical experience with a variety of populations, including hospital patients (cardiac, oncology, and ICU units), hospice patients, adults with special needs, Parkinson's patients, Traumatic Brain Injury, Alzheimer's/Dementia, substance abuse, and victims of domestic violence. Meredith is a board certified music therapist, and a certified Music Together teacher as well. In addition to working with adults with special needs at ITA, Meredith also works with hospice patients in the Chicago area.

Music Therapist
Carrie Fehr, MT-BC
Carrie received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy from Wartburg College in 2010. She completed her internship at NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Evanston Hospital. During her internship, Carrie worked with a variety of patients with complex medical conditions in the areas of cardiac, oncology, psychiatric, and end of life care. Carrie is a board certified music therapist and a licensed Kindermusik educator. Carrie is currently of member of the American Music Therapy Association and the Illinois Association of Music Therapy.

Dance Movement Therapist

Leslie Stevenson, R-DMT

Leslie Stevenson is a Dance/Movement therapist and a dancer.  Leslie received her BA in Dance/Movement Therapy from Barat College in Lake Forest, Il.  She received her Master's Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Columbia College where she was awarded the Follet scholarship. Her clinical experiences includes work with addictions, Autism and special needs, elderly, and transgender, gay, and lesbian populations.  Leslie was featured on ABC news for her work with cerebral palsy and ballet at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  Leslie currently works for the Chicago Department of Health where she has implemented dance/movement therapy programs focused on violence prevention and bullying in adolescent girls.  Leslie believes in everyone's potential to heal and transform, and Dance/Movement therapy can help to unlock that potential. 

Receptionist/Billing Associate
Garrett Krueger
Garrett has his Bachelor’s of Art in Film/Video Production.  He filmed and edited the recent MIC 9-11 tribute, Lean on Me.