Joy Berendt

Music Therapist

Joy Berendt is a board-certified music therapist who has been practicing in South Florida for over 10 years. She earned her B.M. in Music Therapy with a voice principal and a Minor in Psychology in 2012 from the University of Miami (UM). Joy is a native of Florida, born in West Palm Beach, FL. Joy has loved singing and dancing from a young age. This led her to pursue vocal studies in classical music, opera, musical theatre, chorus, and ballet.

She began her studies in elementary school and pursued them in high school and college. Before pursuing a degree in music therapy, she first trained in Vocal Performance for 2 years at Carson Newman University in Tennessee. Then her passion for helping people and her curiosity in psychology led her to the music therapy program at UM.

Joy has performed internationally and loves to perform locally. Shas also taken part in several local professional chorus groups and church ministries. Joy's passion is helping others through the universal language of music. She has worked in private practice with many populations, and has experience working with all ages, and varying abilities. She has a unique gift and privilege to also work with patients in hospice and palliative care.

Joy's therapeutic approach is eclectic; strongly influenced by the person-centered and evidenced-based Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) focus from UM. Joy also plays the guitar, ukulele, piano, various percussion, and is learning violin. When Joy is not working, she loves to spend time with her husband and young daughter taking nature walks, spending time at the ocean, and just loves to have fun!