Music Therapy at Saint Louis Forensic Treatment Center
Our Team & What We Do!
St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center currently employs six music therapists! We are spread out in different leadership positions and in different treatment programs.
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Betsy Alfermann, MT-BC, MRC
Director of Rehabilitation Services
North & South Campus
Betsy Alfermann is a Board Certified Music Therapist from St. Louis, MO. She received her Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Maryville University in the Spring of 2017 and her Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from Maryville University in the Spring of 2022.
After earning her bachelor degree, Betsy completed her clinical internship at Missouri Baptist Hospital in their Adult Rehabilitation Unit and at BJC Home Health Care in their Hospice and Bereavement Department. Shortly after completing her internship, Betsy earned her board certification in April 2018 and began working at St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (Now known as St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center, South Campus) in July 2018.
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Betsy started at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center as a Music Therapist, transitioned into being the Central Activity Therapy Director and Assistant Director of Rehabilitation Services, and is now the Director of Rehabilitation Services. Betsy is a dedicated leader who is passionate about expanding opportunities for our clients, staff, and students.
Brian Bolin, MT-BC
Assistant Director of Rehabilitation Services
North & South Campus
Brian Bolin is a Board Certified Music Therapist from Festus, MO. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Maryville University in the Spring of 2017 and completed his internship at the Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center (Now known as St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center, North Camps).
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Brian began working in the Rehabilitation Department at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center (also a DMH facility) in Farmington Missouri in 2018. In 2020, he became a Music Therapy Supervisor and began educating Music Therapy Interns while working in coordination with the American Music Therapy Association. Brian has helped students from all across the country complete their requirements for their Music Therapy degrees.
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In 2024, Brian became the Assistant Director of Rehabilitation Services at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center. Brian is passionate when it comes to serving others and is a competent and caring music therapist who brings a sense of ease to every conversation and client interaction.
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Masey Bourisaw, MT-BC
Music Therapy Student Coordinator
Transitional Rehabilitation Program
South Campus
Masey Pope is a Board Certified Music Therapist from the St. Louis, MO area. She received her Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Maryville University in the Spring of 2022. After completion of coursework, Masey completed her six month clinical internship with Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care, Jefferson and South hospitals, in the Fall of 2022. After internship, she earned her Board Certification in February 2023, and began working at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center, South Campus, in March.
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Masey became the Music Therapy Internship Coordinator at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center in 2024. She is passionate about creating a safe space for learning and fostering creativity. She has always been driven toward education and enjoys learning alongside students. Her goals for our Music Therapy students are that they feel encouraged to grow, safe to try new things (and make mistakes), and supported throughout their practicum and/or internship.
Steve Corrier, BSMT
Transitional Rehabilitation Program
South Campus
Steve Corrier is a CBMT-eligible music therapist from St. Louis, MO. Steve received his Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Maryville University in 2021.
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After earning his degree from Maryville University, Steve completed his clinical internship at St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center - North. In addition to his music therapy groups and treatment planning, Steve specialized in creating recorded music templates to enhance patient songwriting experiences.
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After his internship, Steve was employed at CenterPointe Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. While at CenterPointe, Steve focused on using music to address various mental health goals, including goals related specifically to addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Steve has been employed at FTC-S since December of 2021.
Emily Swanson, MT-BC
Competency Restoration Program
North Campus
Emily Swanson is a Music Therapist at the St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center – North Campus. Emily works within Rehabilitation Services as a clinical treatment team member. Emily graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a Certificate in Writing. She completed a 6-month internship at Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center in accordance with AMTA internship program guidelines. Both SMMHC and FTC are Missouri Department of Mental Health facilities that provide mental health treatment for forensic patients.
Some of Ms. Swanson’s job responsibilities at FTC-North include developing new Music Therapy interventions for clients, leading and documenting client sessions, assessing the Rehabilitation needs of clients, writing and reviewing client treatment plans, and collaborating with both clinical treatment team members and Rehabilitation Services staff.
Breann Bartholomew, MT-BC
New Outlook Program
South Campus
Breann Bartholomew is a Board Certified Music Therapist from San Diego, CA. After completing her BA in Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington in 2020, Breann pursued a BS in Music Therapy from Maryville University in St. Louis.
While at Maryville, Breann earned the College of Arts and Sciences “Excellence in Music” Award and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was also awarded the A.B. Assensoh Award for Research Creativity while at Indiana University. During her time as a student at both universities, Breann worked as a Registered Behavior Technician and has since been serving the Autism Community while growing her Applied Behavior Analysis techniques for over five years.
Breann completed her internship at the St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center in March of 2024. She obtained her Board Certification two weeks after completing internship and began her job as a Music Therapist at FTC-S in May of 2024. She now works in the New Outlook Program, specializing in DBT for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. Breann is a kind individual with a passion for helping others through music, and is happy to be living her dream each day.
Music Therapy at FTC-N
At FTC-N, our music therapists are core members of each patients' multidisciplinary treatment team. While conducting both individual sessions and group sessions, our music therapists are heavily involved in treatment planning as well.
Our main goal is to achieve psychiatric stabilization, as well as return to optimal level of functioning for patients so that they may become competent to stand trial and address any alleged charges they may possess.
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Our patients are admitted directly from county jails from across the state of Missouri. Upon admission, many patients are acutely ill with a variety of mental health diagnoses.
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FTC-N consists of two main, locked treatment units that accommodate 25 patients per unit. Patients are all 18+, and of any gender. All of our patients must be adjudicated Competent or Permanently Incompetent to Stand Trial before they may be discharged. Our average patient length of stay is between six to nine months.