Meet Elizabeth Vansant

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Vansant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I think imposter syndrome is something I’m still having to fight when it comes to my work as a music therapist. Because I work in a field that is still relatively unknown, I sometimes feel as though I need to present myself in a way that fits into a box that parents or caregivers might expect. It’s when I’m working with clients, though, that I feel this imposter syndrome melts away because I can see the impacts that music has on each of them. Tracking their progress helps me then communicate this to parents, which in turn allows me to put the imposter syndrome on pause.

Constantly reminding myself of those feelings I get in sessions when I see the progress is what helps me overcome imposter syndrome most readily.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a board-certified music therapist who became a private practice owner in the Fall of 2023. I work from a neurodiversity-affirming lens and prioritize working with Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals. My biggest focus is on creating a safe space where everyone is comfortable being themselves.

Working with new and upcoming music therapists is also something that I treasure, and I provide supervision to local music therapy practicum students, have created low- and no-cost templates for sale on my website, and have served on the board for our state’s Music Therapy Association. Connecting with other music therapists is so important to me!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think my ability to be comfortable with unlearning has been most impactful in my journey. I’m a very trusting individual, and often take things at face value. I have had to learn that what I think I know might not be right, and one of my favorite sayings that I strive to live by is “when you know better, you do better”.

Following that line of thought, I am also always looking for more knowledge. I absolutely love learning, and while I never thought I would be a small business owner, the opportunity arose and I took it and ran, seeing it as an opportunity to learn more about the business side of things.

One of my biggest pieces of advice is that people surround themselves with others who can see their potential and will support them in whatever way they might need. I never could have imagined myself running a business, but I had friends, family, and coworkers who saw my potential and helped build up the confidence I needed to take that leap.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one obstacle I currently face is financial. Music therapists, similar to many other healthcare professionals, don’t make a lot of money. I have a big dream to turn my solo practice into a group practice, but I refuse to do that until I can provide a living wage to fellow music therapist. To try to resolve this, I’m paying close attention to my budgeting, doing lots of math, and figuring out how I can build up passive streams of income.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eastsidemt.com
• Instagram: eastsidemusictherapy