OUR TEAM
Music Therapy St. Pete is proud to work as a small team to best provide the highest-quality care across the greater Saint Petersburg area. Our team is composed of some amazing therapists with specific training and diverse clinical experiences. We are members of the American Music Therapy Association and have earned the credentials of Music Therapist - Board Certified (MT-BC) through national examination. MTSP also runs an internship program. We accept premier students on a rolling admissions basis.
James Riley, MM, MT-BC
Executive Director
james@mtsp.com
James is the founder and director of Music Therapy St. Pete, LLC. Since earning his Music Therapist - Board Certified (MT-BC) credentials in 2012, he has used music therapy to help all ages and abilities in a wide variety of clinical, community, and educational settings. He earned his master’s degree in music therapy (MM) from the Florida State University in 2013, then stayed on for two years as a full-time faculty member of the FSU music therapy program, before moving to the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater area to be with family. James enjoys speaking at events, performing classical piano, and supporting MTSP’s therapists and interns. He loves coffee, nature, swimming, reading, cooking, art projects, travel, cats and dogs, and octopuses, good conversations, silly conversations, and spending time with his nieces and nephews!
Elise Scullin, MT-BC
Program Director, Internship Director
elise@mtsp.com
Elise Scullin is the Program Director and Internship Director at Music Therapy St. Pete, LLC. She was born and raised in Cleveland, OH and received her Bachelors of Arts in Music Therapy from The University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. She has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally on music therapy and has collaborated with professionals across the United States and Europe. She completed her music therapy internship at MusicWorx Inc in San Diego, CA where she further fostered her passion for music therapy. Elise enjoys working with a wide variety of clients including children and adolescents with varying disabilities and diagnoses and memory care. When out of office you can find her with a book, her pets, or enjoying some time outdoors in beautiful St. Pete!
Whitney Perry, MT-BC, NMT
Clinical Director
whitney@mtsp.com
Whitney Perry is the clinical director at Music Therapy St. Pete, LLC. Originally from central valley California, Whitney received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She later moved down to San Diego to complete her clinical internship with MusicWorx Inc. and Resounding Joy, where she developed a website dedicated to advocating for music therapy in hospitals (check it out!). Whitney has completed her Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) training, and is passionate about incorporating the techniques learned into her music therapy practice with teens and young adults with apraxia, older adults in long term and memory care, and in adapted music lessons.
Cara Jernigan, MMT, MT-BC
cara@mtsp.com
Cara (she/her) is a board-certified music therapist, born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She obtained her bachelor of science degree in music therapy and a minor in psychology from Duquesne University. She completed her internship at what is now , "Three Rivers Community Care,” in Pittsburgh, PA, where she learned a lot about the inter-workings of private practice and providing individual and group music therapy to diverse populations. Most recently, Cara completed her masters in music therapy with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling from Slippery Rock University. Her masters thesis (retrospective case study) reflects on her experience using music improvisation and storytelling for frustration tolerance and anxiety. Soon, she will be a registered mental health counselor intern to work towards completion of her license in mental health counseling. Additionally, she is “SMART” certified. Cara uses a blend of humanistic, trauma-informed, multi-cultural, and feminist (music) therapy approaches when working with all ages.
Brooklyn Webb, MT-BC, NICU-MT
brooklyn@mtsp.com
Brooklyn was raised in St. Petersburg, FL and received her Bachelor's of Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. She completed her internship at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and her favorite unit to be on is the NICU in providing music and support to premature infants and their families. In January of 2023 she began her grad studies at NSU to obtain a MS in Developmental Disabilities with a Child-Life concentration in order to further her knowledge and skills in working with medically complex children and gain a CCLS (Certified Child Life Specialist) certification. Brooklyn enjoys spending her weekends at the beach and downtown St. Pete with her friends, working out, hiking & biking, and cooking all things vegan!
Amaya Stamm, MT-BC
amaya@mtsp.com
Amaya is a Floridian at heart, growing up in New Smyrna Beach and moving to the Fort Myers area while earning her Bachelors in Music Therapy degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. During her internship at Music Therapy St. Pete, she grew her clinical experience across diverse populations, created an online resource for music therapists working with individuals with apraxia, and explored how to utilize the flute in a music therapy setting. After internship, Amaya joined the MTSP team as a board certified music therapist and continues to develop her passions for working with clients with apraxia and older adults.
Evelyn Collis, MT-BC
evelyn@mtsp.com
Evelyn is from Birmingham, Alabama and is new to the St. Petersburg area. She received her Bachelor of Music with a double major in Music Therapy and Psychology at the University of Miami. She completed her internship at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina. There she completed a dual internship in music therapy and child life and has enjoyed learning about different approaches to supporting children and their families. Evelyn is excited to return to Florida and incorporate her diverse training in her work with MTSP. A southerner at heart, Evelyn loves watching college football (Go Canes!), Braves baseball, and real southern barbecue.
Riley Murray
Music Therapy Intern
Riley attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, though she is originally from Orlando, FL, and is currently working towards earning a Bachelor's of Music in Music Therapy. Riley is NICU certified and has a certification in Interdepartmental Disabilities. Her primary instrument is voice, but she also has proficiency in guitar and piano. Riley's hobbies include reading, hanging out with her cat, and visiting cafes around St. Pete. During her time as an intern with Music Therapy St. Pete, Riley is looking forward to interacting with a variety of populations, gaining knowledge and new perspectives from multiple supervisors, and growing as a professional.
