Our Therapy Collective
Meet our team of specialized therapists. As a collective, we offer music therapy, therapeutic recreation, and community wellness from Brownsville to Laredo and all throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Marisa de León, MS, MT-BC, TRS/TXC
Marisa is a board certified music therapist, therapeutic recreation specialist, and founder of RGV-MTWC. She received her Bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Texas Woman’s University and a Master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. She is currently pursuing additional graduate studies at Temple University and has completed specialized training in neurologic music therapy. Marisa is passionate about music therapy in Mexican American Communities and works with clients of diverse clinical backgrounds across South Texas.
Jonathan Ruiz, MT-BC
Jon is a board certified music therapist born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. He graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2019 after completing a six month internship right here at RGV Music Therapy. Jon chose to pursue music therapy because music he always been a part of his life and he enjoys using it to help others in a clinical setting. When he’s not at the office, you can find Jon spending time with his dog Peggy, playing DnD with friends, at the gym, or attending a live concert. Jon has been practicing music therapy for four years now and is also one of our music therapy supervisors.
Jennifer Estrada, MT-BC
Jenni was born and raised in Garland, Texas and received a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy after moving to the RGV to complete her clinical hours here at RGV Music Therapy. She is also currently pursing a Master’s degree in counseling at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley with plans to become a licensed professional counselor.
Diana Garza, MS, LPC, MT-BC, AMFT
Diana received her BA in Music Therapy from California State University Northridge and her MS in Counseling from California State University Fullerton. She has been a board certified Music Therapist for over 10 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas with training in marriage and family therapy and trauma-informed care. Diana has experience in a wide variety of settings and her specializations include working with neurodivergent individuals and their families. Diana uses a person-centered approach and believes that music can be a transformative element to someone's treatment.
Makayla Newburn, MT-BC
Makayla is a board certified music therapist who earned a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She joined the RGV Music Therapy team while completing clinical hours for board certification here with our internship program. Makayla primarily works with youth and adolescents in mental health settings but also provides music therapy treatment for neurodivergent adults in Cameron County.
Anai Cuellar-Casas, CTRS
Anai received a Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the Texas State University in San Marcos and is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). She was born and raised in the RGV and she currently specializes in recreational therapy treatment for neurodivergent clients all throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Stephany Sanchez, CTRS
Stephany is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) and received a Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the Texas State University in San Marcos. She is from Pharr, Texas and specializes in the use leisure-based experiences in clinical settings. She currently provides recreational therapy treatment for neurodivergent clients all throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Alexis Arturo Salazar, MT-BC
Alexis is a board certified music therapist from Laredo, Texas. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas before returning to his home community to work as a music therapist with our program. Alexis currently offers in person therapy for neurodivergent adults in Webb county.
Melissa Medina, MT-BC
Melissa is a board certified music therapist from Houston, Texas. She worked as a choir director for many years before pursuing a distance-based equivalency program at Saint Mary of the Woods University. Melissa joined our team while completing internship hours for board certification and provides music therapy treatment to neurodivergent adults and youth/adolescents in mental health settings across the RGV.
Asael Márquez, MM, MT-BC
Asael Márquez is a board certified music therapist who graduated from Saint Mary of the Woods College. Asael also holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas and a Master's degree in Jazz Studies from Texas State University. Asael currently works as a private lesson instructor, a saxophone performer and a music therapist. Asael hopes to use his passion and knowledge of music and music therapy to serve the community of the Rio Grande Valley.
Omar Oyoque
Omar is a music therapy intern who is currently pursuing a music therapy equivalency program at Saint Mary of the Woods University. Omar has a Bachelor’s degree in both agriculture science and music and has been working alongside our team for many years in both the administrative and community wellness programs. He assists with hospice music therapy sessions for local nonprofit organizations in the RGV and co-leads sessions for neurodivergent adults in preparation for becoming a board certified music therapist.
Gabriella de la Garza
Gaby is an RGV native from Mission, Texas - born and raised. Gaby earned a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Sam Houston State University in 2023 after completing a six month long internship here at RGV Music Therapy. She currently provides music therapy for youth and adolescents in mental health settings and serves as our social media coordinator.
Heather Mock, MMT, MT-BC
Heather grew up in Edgewood, a small town located in east Texas. She later studied at Texas Woman's University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy in 2019 and her Master of Music Therapy in 2022. Her master's thesis was titled: Supporting Social Well-Being Through Resource-Oriented Music Therapy: A Content Analysis of Semi-Structured Interviews. Heather's research was featured on episode #3 of our podcast, Musical Mindspace!
Heather joined us as an intern back in 2019. Even though she has since returned to the DFW area, she still serves RGV Music Therapy as a telehealth contract music therapist. When she's not working, you can find Heather crocheting, attending concerts (especially John Mayer ones), and cuddling with the sweetest cat in the world, Marta.
Kaylie Sargent-Ysasi, MS, CTRS
Kaylie Ysasi earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy and her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling. As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) with over five years of experience, she has worked with a diverse range of individuals across hospital, home health, community, and Telehealth settings. Kaylie is dedicated to improving quality of life through holistic interventions that address physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Her approach emphasizes empowering clients through personalized, engaging therapeutic activities designed to enhance overall well-being and promote lasting positive change.
Grace Picciotti, CTRS
Grace is a graduate of Texas State University with a BS in Recreation Admin and Concentration in Therapeutic Recreation. She obtained her national certification in 2022 through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Grace is a South Houston native who found recreation therapy in her own life while navigating her journey living with Spina Bifida. Grace began this journey after finding a strength training community in high school to improve her overall health and physical strength. She now strives to provide those same therapeutic leisure and recreational opportunities as a clinician to others, so that they can reach their highest potential. In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs, weightlifting, playing piano, hiking, kayaking and yoga.
Sara Yanez
Sara Yanez was born in McAllen and raised in Weslaco, TX. Having fallen in love with music at such an early age, she knew exactly that’s what she wanted to do! Being part of her high school’s mariachi and leading praise and worship at her church, she loved witnessing the impact music has on people’s lives. She attended UTPA and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and minors in Spanish and Communication. Sara taught elementary music for seven years and has now chosen to continue to serve her community as a music therapy student. Her primary instrument is her voice, but she also plays guitar and piano. She loves to listen to music and discover new artists and music as well. When she is not singing or making music, Sara loves photography, running, traveling, watching movies and shows, spending time with her two black cats, and making memories with her husband and loved ones.