Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Politte-Bender, MT-BC, NMT.
Hi Dustin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey started at a young age. Music was everywhere in my family, whether it was singing in the car on the way to school with my mom, learning songs from my older brothers’ choir folders, or beating on any object that stood still long enough once I finally got a pair of drumsticks. I knew pretty early on that music was something I wanted to do.
Fast forward several years to when I was choosing a college major, music education sounded like the perfect fit. I moved a few hours away and started at Southeast Missouri State, fully expecting things to come just as easily as music always had in the past. Unfortunately, instead of hitting the ground running, I stumbled and face planted. After months of struggling with my mental health, balancing so much change, and being away from home for the first time, I finally admitted that things weren’t right. I moved back home to get support and reevaluate what would come next. Almost like fate, this was when I first heard about music therapy.
As if it were the missing piece, everything seemed to fall into place. I worked through the Jefferson College music program to earn my associate’s degree and then fully immersed myself in Maryville University’s music therapy program for my bachelor’s. It was everything I had been looking for—making music every day while also forming meaningful connections and supporting others through their most challenging moments. I spent the next several years learning everything I could, building relationships, and shaping how I wanted to practice for years to come.
After graduation, I once again found myself searching for the right fit. I was always drawn to mental health because of my own struggles, but I had also experienced powerful moments with clients across the lifespan. I moved from place to place: first at St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, where I found a position shortly after finishing my internship, then at St. Luke’s Surrey Place, where I quickly became Director of the Recreation Therapy department. Eventually, I realized I wanted a more varied caseload and made the leap into private practice. I grew so much during this time and absorbed everything each workplace had to share, but nothing ever felt like the perfect fit. I thought I was looking for a place, but what I really wanted was to create one of my own.
My wife, Tiffany, actually came up with the name Positive Note Music Therapy more than three years before I opened the practice. About a year before it all came together, she even convinced me to secure the domain and start getting materials. At that point, I still wasn’t fully convinced I would open my own practice. She has always been my biggest supporter and made me realize that I wasn’t looking to fit into a space created by someone else. I was always preparing myself to lead what music therapy could look like for the future and push the boundaries of where we could be as clinicians. I finally started my practice in January of 2023 and never looked back.
Now, nearly three years later, we’ve grown to four therapists, including myself, who provide care across the lifespan in the greater St. Louis area as well as virtually across Missouri. We believe that anyone can benefit from music therapy, and we will continue working to make it more accessible while raising the bar for the profession everywhere.
In addition to running the practice, I teach up-and-coming music therapists at Maryville University. I lead several of the university’s music therapy programs and partnerships while finishing my final semesters before I earn my Master’s in Music Therapy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road is rarely worth taking. Our road is no exception! There have been bumps, switchbacks, twists, and turns along the way. Starting anything like a private practice is daunting, and it’s hard to know where to begin. Luckily, we’ve made plenty of connections over the years with professionals and friends who have supported us and helped shape what PNMT has become.
When we talk about music therapy, we often hear the response, “Oh, I do music therapy all the time in my car with the radio on.” On the surface, this is exactly what music therapy is: engaging in music and getting some relief from stress. One of our biggest challenges, and what we pride ourselves on at PNMT, is including the education piece in everything we do. While we all tend to use music in a therapeutic way, music therapy is a clinical and evidence-based practice led by a certified clinician. When we have this preconceived notion of music therapy, it can be a challenge for organizations or families to see the full value and commit to finding room in their already tight budget or schedule. This is why we continue to take every opportunity to educate and showcase how meaningful music therapy can be through in-services, community events, and social media. It may be a high expectation, but we are here for the long run, working to make music therapy more accessible and valued as a critical support for patients and families.
We’ve been impressed with Positive Note Music Therapy, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Positive Note Music Therapy is a music therapy practice that serves the greater St. Louis area, including Jefferson County, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and Missouri as a whole, via telehealth. We see clients from birth to end of life for support with Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health, dementia, bereavement support, and so much more. We use music holistically to support the whole person as well as the family when appropriate to make whatever they’re struggling with more manageable and see some profound changes.
PNMT comes right to your door to see clients in their own home or virtually to minimize any disruption to your day. If in-home isn’t ideal for your circumstance, we also have some excellent community partners who allow us to use their space for neutral meetings for clients who need them. We’ve also been lucky to work with several schools that accommodate us to work with kids during their school day to support them whenever they need it most.
We bring instruments, including a guitar, simple percussion, and our voices, to make music to support or engage our clients based on their needs. What might appear to be a simple lesson, song discussion, or listening activity is actually a carefully designed therapeutic process. We intentionally use music and engagement to achieve the most meaningful outcomes for our clients.
One of the things we’re most proud of is the number of partnerships we have created in the community. We partner with several large organizations and small non-profits, providing individual and group sessions for people of all ages and abilities.
One of the most important breakthroughs for the music therapy community includes new foster and adoptive youth coverage through the Show Me Healthy Kids Health Plan managed by Home State Health. This covers up to 20 free sessions each calendar year if a child struggles with a covered diagnosis. There are so many kids going through the system who feel alone or are healing from situations that most of us have a hard time imagining, and music can be a key component for their healing journey. Those interested can reach out to us, and we’ll help guide the coverage process. We also work with many families outside this coverage who have shared their stories and expressed financial struggles. We are constantly working to establish more support for families, including financial support to afford services for those who would otherwise not have access. We always encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us to see if any programs are available to help.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is providing high-quality services while continuing to expand education and accessibility of music therapy. This includes having board-certified and highly skilled therapists on our team who are continually seeking to better themselves and their practice. We pride ourselves on our clinical and musical skills. We stand behind each of our therapists’ ability to serve your unique needs and will always maintain the same level of service across our practice.
Expanding services includes education, funding, and accessibility to music therapy services. This is why we work toward integrating into existing services such as hospitals, schools, and care programs. When there’s no program available, we work with organizations to fit within the structure they have already created to best fit their needs while bringing a new service to those they serve.
Pricing:
- Pricing can depend on each person’s situation and available funding, so we invite anyone interested to reach out for more details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://positivenotemusictherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivenotemusictherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/positivenotemusictherapyllc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-politte-bender/
