Willow Lapp, MA

Training: Willow earned her bachelor's degrees in Music Therapy and Psychology from Mercyhurst University. Throughout her studies, she completed over 1200 hours of clinical work across a wide range of practicum and internship experiences. These included working with individuals across the lifespan, from children to older adults, and supporting populations with neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and mental health conditions. After completing her undergraduate degrees, she became a practicing board-certified music therapist. She is currently pursuing her master's in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Rochester and is in her second year of study, having recently completed her master's level practicum at a local private practice working primarily with children, adolescents, and families before starting at GVP.

Clinical Expertise: Willow brings a growing depth of clinical knowledge through her combined experience as a music therapist and counseling student. Before returning to school, she worked as a school-based music therapist, leading both individual and group sessions. In graduate school, she has continued using creative interventions while developing a foundation in integrated work. Her clinical training thus far includes supporting individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Attention Deficit Disorder, among others. She is also being trained in multiple therapeutic modalities, including Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, creative and strength-based techniques, and more. At GVP, she specializes in OCD, which requires 25 hours of initial training on the gold standard, evidence based treatment for OCD (Exposure and Response Prevention, ERP), and 3 hours each week of ongoing training and supervision, throughout her tenure at GVP.

Diversity and Inclusion: Willow is committed to understanding each client within the context of their full biopsychosocial identity. Her goal is to provide individualized, effective care that is shaped by the many intersecting parts of who a person is. Her background includes involvement in various initiatives focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, and she remains deeply dedicated to creating and holding spaces where people feel seen and heard. She believes that honoring the uniqueness of each person allows for greater healing and learning in the therapeutic process.

Approach: Willow continues to build her therapeutic approach with a strong foundation in creativity and evidence based practice. She is passionate about adapting her work to fit the unique needs of each individual, with a focus on promoting self awareness, emotional insight, and lasting change. Her work is centered on helping people overcome adversity and move toward greater self confidence, empowerment, and life satisfaction. 

Preferred Age Groups: Willow enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults.