About Palladia
Individual and group music therapy in the Chicagoland area
Gwendolyn Barber, MT-BC, LPMT
Board Certified Music Therapist & Licensed Professional Music Therapist
Gwendolyn Barber is a board-certified and Illinois-licensed music therapist who founded Palladia Music Therapy to bring individual and group music therapy to people across the Chicagoland area. She holds a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Radford University and uses music experiences — singing, playing instruments, songwriting, improvisation, and movement — to support each client’s goals.
Each client begins with an assessment of their strengths and needs, followed by an individualized plan. Sessions are flexible and adapt as goals change. Families and care teams are kept informed along the way, and no musical background is required.
Education & credentials
Education
- Bachelor of Music Therapy, Radford University
Certification & licensure
- MT-BC — Music Therapist-Board Certified, Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT)
- LPMT — Licensed Professional Music Therapist, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Professional memberships
- American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
Our approach
Music therapy at Palladia is client-centered: it starts with who you are, what matters to you, and the music you connect with. Goals are clear and measurable, progress is reviewed regularly, and care is coordinated with families, caregivers, schools, and healthcare teams when that helps.
Every session is built on respect, collaboration, and the belief that music can reach people in ways words sometimes can’t.
The name & the owl
The name Palladia draws on Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, whose constant companion was the owl. In Greek myth and across many cultures since, the owl has stood for wisdom, guidance, and the ability to see clearly where others cannot.
Those qualities are at the heart of music therapy, which begins with attentive listening — to the person and to the music they bring. In the logo, a musical staff wraps around the owl, a reminder that music is the path through which the work happens: a steady, supportive way to express, connect, and grow.