Photo credit: Chris Sikich
Julie Lipson, MA, MT-BC (they/them) is a board certified music therapist, musician, and consultant. Until closing due to the pandemic, they owned and managed Inner Rhythms Music and Therapy Center, which was home to music therapists, music teachers, and the Philly community of artists and healers. Julie offers music therapy to groups and individuals, specializing in adults who are exploring the connection between their voice and gender. Julie also provides consultation for individuals and organizations, and offers trainings on LGBTQ competency, private practice start up, and using creativity in therapy.
Julie received their Master’s in Music Therapy from Drexel University. They are also an Assistant Director at Camp Aranu’tiq, summer camp for transgender and gender-variant youth. Working with trans/non-binary kids and families inspired Julie to create Practice Your Pronouns, a sing-along resource that helps allies practice switching pronouns, and offers non-binary visibility through music.
Julie is a dynamic speaker, and focuses on a range of topics related to the voice (literal and metaphorical), creativity, and finding the authentic self. They have presented in a variety of settings, including the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and New York City’s School of Visual Arts. Their chapter “Seeking the Uncensored Self: Music Therapy with Transgender Clients” was published in the 2019 book, Creative Arts Therapies and the LGBTQ Community: Theory and Practice. Julie has received 3 Leeway Foundation Grants for Art and Social Change, and in 2018 Julie was selected as one of Drexel’s “40 under 40: recognizing outstanding young alumni who are making a mark in their professions and community.”
Julie received their Master’s in Music Therapy from Drexel University. They are also an Assistant Director at Camp Aranu’tiq, summer camp for transgender and gender-variant youth. Working with trans/non-binary kids and families inspired Julie to create Practice Your Pronouns, a sing-along resource that helps allies practice switching pronouns, and offers non-binary visibility through music.
Julie is a dynamic speaker, and focuses on a range of topics related to the voice (literal and metaphorical), creativity, and finding the authentic self. They have presented in a variety of settings, including the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and New York City’s School of Visual Arts. Their chapter “Seeking the Uncensored Self: Music Therapy with Transgender Clients” was published in the 2019 book, Creative Arts Therapies and the LGBTQ Community: Theory and Practice. Julie has received 3 Leeway Foundation Grants for Art and Social Change, and in 2018 Julie was selected as one of Drexel’s “40 under 40: recognizing outstanding young alumni who are making a mark in their professions and community.”
Education
Drexel University: Master's in Music Therapy
Thesis: The Lived Experience of Vocal Expression for Three Transgender People (Lipson, 2013)
University of Maryland: Bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies
Member, American Music Therapy Association (AMTA featured Julie in this edition of their newsletter)
Selected Presentations and Publications
-The Voice as Embodied Healing, Philadelphia Area Group Psychotherapy Society, 2019
-Exploring the Power of Creativity in Psychotherapy, Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists (2018)
-"Seeking the Uncensored Self: Music Therapy with Transgender Clients" in Creative Arts Therapies and the LGBTQ Community: Theory and Practice (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019)
-School of Visual Arts Art Therapy Annual Conference: Creative Arts Therapies: Innovation and Integration (New York, 2017)
-"Finding the Voice Within." 2015. Presence, An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, Vol 21, Number 4.
-Transgender and Genderqueer Music Therapy Group, Therapy Center of Philadelphia (f.k.a Women's Therapy Center, 2014-17)
-Being heard: mental and vocal health perspectives about voice and identity (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, Trans Behavioral Health Care Initiative, 2015)
-Envisioning Home at Camp and Beyond (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2015)
-Playground for Adults: improv, creativity, and play workshop (Studio 34, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-I am Alive: Experiencing Aliveness through Cycles of Sound and Movement (Beth Zion Beth Israel, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-We are Family: Band Dynamics through Theater of the Oppressed (Ladies Rock Camp, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-Living in Communities (Theater of the Oppressed, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-Introduction to Theater of the Oppressed (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2014)
-Change as the Only Constant: Using Theater of the Oppressed to Explore Change and Transition for People and Organizations (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2014)
-Gender and Music Therapy (Drexel Creative Arts Therapies Multicultural Class, Philadelphia, PA, 2013)
-Making Music Into Tools for Liberation (Theater of the Oppressed, Philadelphia, PA, 2013)
-Voice, Identity, and the Self (Passages Music Therapy Conference, Woodstock, NY, 2013)
-Vocal Expression and Identity (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, 2013)
-Camp Aranu'tiq: The world's first summer camp for trans and gender-variant youth (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, 2012 and Gender Spectrum Family Conference, Berkeley, CA, 2001)
Selected Press
- NPR: A New Children's Album Celebrates Kids Who Are Transgender And Nonbinary, Aug, 2020
- Magnet Magazine, Nov, 2020
Drexel University: Master's in Music Therapy
Thesis: The Lived Experience of Vocal Expression for Three Transgender People (Lipson, 2013)
University of Maryland: Bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies
Member, American Music Therapy Association (AMTA featured Julie in this edition of their newsletter)
Selected Presentations and Publications
-The Voice as Embodied Healing, Philadelphia Area Group Psychotherapy Society, 2019
-Exploring the Power of Creativity in Psychotherapy, Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists (2018)
-"Seeking the Uncensored Self: Music Therapy with Transgender Clients" in Creative Arts Therapies and the LGBTQ Community: Theory and Practice (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019)
-School of Visual Arts Art Therapy Annual Conference: Creative Arts Therapies: Innovation and Integration (New York, 2017)
-"Finding the Voice Within." 2015. Presence, An International Journal of Spiritual Direction, Vol 21, Number 4.
-Transgender and Genderqueer Music Therapy Group, Therapy Center of Philadelphia (f.k.a Women's Therapy Center, 2014-17)
-Being heard: mental and vocal health perspectives about voice and identity (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, Trans Behavioral Health Care Initiative, 2015)
-Envisioning Home at Camp and Beyond (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2015)
-Playground for Adults: improv, creativity, and play workshop (Studio 34, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-I am Alive: Experiencing Aliveness through Cycles of Sound and Movement (Beth Zion Beth Israel, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-We are Family: Band Dynamics through Theater of the Oppressed (Ladies Rock Camp, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-Living in Communities (Theater of the Oppressed, Philadelphia, PA, 2014)
-Introduction to Theater of the Oppressed (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2014)
-Change as the Only Constant: Using Theater of the Oppressed to Explore Change and Transition for People and Organizations (Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference, New Jersey, 2014)
-Gender and Music Therapy (Drexel Creative Arts Therapies Multicultural Class, Philadelphia, PA, 2013)
-Making Music Into Tools for Liberation (Theater of the Oppressed, Philadelphia, PA, 2013)
-Voice, Identity, and the Self (Passages Music Therapy Conference, Woodstock, NY, 2013)
-Vocal Expression and Identity (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, 2013)
-Camp Aranu'tiq: The world's first summer camp for trans and gender-variant youth (Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, 2012 and Gender Spectrum Family Conference, Berkeley, CA, 2001)
Selected Press
- NPR: A New Children's Album Celebrates Kids Who Are Transgender And Nonbinary, Aug, 2020
- Magnet Magazine, Nov, 2020
