Carmen Steele-Abundez

Carmen Abundez has been working as a board-certified music therapist in California’s Central Valley and East Bay since 2001. Her experience includes special education, oncology, adult skilled nursing, adult day treatment, foster youth and juvenile forensics. She is currently specializing in working with children from homeless families through the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s alternative education enrichment program.

Carmen was the recipient of the Western Music Therapy Association Professional Development Award in 2015. She has experience in program development and grant writing and has successfully received funding through the nonprofit TLC Foundation from Rotary of Stockton, General Mills, Junior League of San Joaquin County, and United Way of San Joaquin. She regularly gives presentations in the Stockton community about the educational needs of homeless children, and guests lectures annually for the Pacific Music Therapy department about how music therapy can enhance the educational experience of children experiencing homelessness.

Carmen has supervised undergraduate music therapy fieldwork for Pacific since 2013.