Vanessa
VANESSA CONTOPULOS
CALIFORNIA, USA
Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Temecula, District 5330, California,
USA
Country of Citizenship: USA
Language proficiency: English, Spanish
Undergraduate degree: University of Redlands; Bachelor of Arts in
Psychology & Music
Background
Vanessa Contopulos is from Southern California and attended the
University of Redlands where studied Psychology and Music. She
completed her board certification as a music therapist and has
worked as a therapist in a variety of settings with a wide range of
different populations.
Some of her therapeutic experience includes working on memory and
transition with hospice patients, using music to facilitate
communication and elicit language with autistic children,
collaborating with physical therapists to encourage movement for
children with cerebral palsy, facilitating song writing and
expressive activities for victims of sexual violence, and creating
music education programs to support and promote indigenous culture.
Vanessa has had the humbling experience of working alongside
counselors in a child soldier rehabilitation center in northern
Uganda over the past 4 years. Along with two of her colleagues, she
created a music therapy training manual and has worked to create an
exchange of therapeutic ideas and techniques with counselors in
Uganda. Vanessa’s interests include writing music, playing the
guitar and piano and singing, reading, hiking, yoga, and dancing.
She is an MA student in Conflict Resolution and is so honored to be
a Rotary Peace Fellow.