Building Vandalia Music Therapy with Shauna McQuerrey

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Shauna McQuerrey, founder of Vandalia Music Therapy. She works with children, teens, adults, and seniors who have conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and brain injuries. Shauna explains how music therapy uses music to support communication, sensory regulation, cognition, and social skills. We talk about the training required to become board certified, including university study, clinical hours, an internship, and a board exam. She also shares the challenges of building partnerships, finding funding, and increasing awareness of music therapy in West Virginia. Shauna stresses that this work is more than singing to clients. It is a clinical practice that requires training because music can cause harm when used without care. We also discuss the value of listening, buying quality instruments, learning grant writing, and building trust over time. Her goal is to make music therapy and music engagement available to more people.