This video features Dr. Sotelo. With over 25 years of experience working with individuals with autism and other developmental disorders, Dr. Sotelo has seen firsthand the transformative power of music therapy.
Unlike many behavior analysts who may not fully embrace music therapy, Dr. Sotelo is a strong advocate for its benefits. She highlights the empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness, particularly in how it engages multiple areas of the brain. Because rhythm is processed on the left hemisphere and melody on the right, music therapy activates multimodal brain functions, making it a powerful tool for learning and development. When combined with physical therapy, music provides an anchor for children with autism, helping them develop gross and fine motor skills, language abilities, greetings, social behaviors, and even group participation. Through her dual expertise in behavior analysis and music therapy, Dr. Sotelo demonstrates how these approaches can work together to enhance outcomes for autistic individuals.
