About Empower Innovations

Empower Innovations offers classes, workshops and retreats to groups and individuals to experience self-discovery, spiritual formation, empowerment and healing through music and creative arts.

The experiences are uniquely designed from Mary’s background in music ministry, music therapy, The Bonny Method Guided Imagery and Music, MARI (Mandala Assessment Resource Instrument) training, and studies of consciousness and creativity.

Empower Innovations: The evolution....

The search for the link of music, spirituality and healing began as many new discoveries do: through the seeds of restlessness. In 1994 I began improvising on the piano late at night.
From these improvisations I realized the potential of music to release emotion, creativity
and connection with spirit. I experimented with reading scripture and "playing" the verses afterwards. From this came the idea of combining reading of scripture, improvisation and guided prayer, and "Piano Ponderings" (a series of three cassettes) was created from
1994-96. more...

Mary J. Morreale

Mary J. Morreale,
music therapist and minister of music is a professional musician, pianist, organist, composer and initiator of Empower Innovations. She facilitates programs for retreats, conferences, groups and individuals and is in private practice in music therapy in the Washington DC area.
Mary has degrees in music performance from Fredonia School of Music and the Eastman School of Music. She completed an equivalency program in music therapy at Fredonia State University in May 2002 and internship in music therapy with Musicworx of California in December 2002.
more...

The evolution, cont.
I experienced Guided Imagery and Music Therapy (GIM) as an "example" of music and healing at a workshop led by Don Campbell at the Omega Institute in June 1997. That experience changed my life. Guided Imagery and Music Therapy was developed by music therapist Helen Bonny and is used in a variety of settings and populations.

Through GIM there was for me the combination of music, spirituality and healing. GIM combined psychology, consciousness and music therapy. Through Guided Imagery and Music Therapy, one listens to music in a "non-ordinary" state (relaxed and focused). "Travelers", as the participant is called, have imagery that can be
very illuminating to the question or intention of the session. A person with extensive training in GIM serves as a guide, scribe and presence during the session. Afterwards a mandala is drawn, a form of art therapy. This process provided a new direction for my vocation.

In 1999 I started my own company, Empower Innovations and produced "Songs for the Journey", parts 1 and 2, combining scripture, my own compositions and guided prayer. This "dual" path of composition and Guided Imagery and Music continued as I also began and completed training in GIM first with the Southern California Institute for Music and Imagery (level 1) and then with the Mid-Atlantic Training Institute (level 2).
I also went back to school full time at SUNY Fredonia to complete music therapy
coursework in the equivalency program.

Going back to Fredonia, my alma mater 25 years prior was a new and interesting venture!
I loved the intellectual stimulation and the energy of the classroom. When the course work
was complete in May of 2002 I chose to do the internship in music therapy with MusicWorx
of California in San Diego. The internship program included experience in a hospital setting, focusing on cancer patients, hospice, Alzheimer patients, substance abuse rehab, and wellness programs for at-risk heart patients. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Barbara Reuer through MusicWorx and to learn so much about the art of music therapy through her vast experience and knowledge of the field.

I produced "Breath of Life" combining guided relaxation and music. From California I chose
to start my new vocation combining music, spirituality and healing in New England. After producing "Songs for all Seasons: A New Day", I wrote a course entitled "Music and Transformation" that accompanies the music. The course is described in the Programs
section and all CDs are available through Products.

The journey continues in the Washington DC area where I facilitate groups of all sizes in
the many classes, workshops and retreats offered though Empower Innovations.

Welcome to the inward journey!

About Mary cont.

Her internship program included experience in a hospital setting focusing on cancer patients, hospice, Alzheimer patients, substance abuse rehab, and wellness programs for at-risk heart patients. She is a board-certified music therapist with a specialty in music and spirituality.

Mary is a MARI practitioner with MARI creative resources (www.maricreativeresources.com). The MARI® (Mandala Assessment Research Instrument) is a comprehensive system that uses symbols, known as mandalas, to reveal the inner truth and reality of the subject as began and developed by art therapist Joan Kellogg.

Mary has extensive experience as organist and choir director of churches of a variety of denominations across the country. She also has produced several resources in guided meditation and original piano improvisations and performs regularly in concert.

Mary is a member of the American Guild of Organists, American Music Therapy Association and has Level 2 certification in the Bonny Method Guided Imagery in Music Therapy. She is certified in Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides from Oasis Ministries. Mary has also done extensive course work in Sound and Healing, meditation, Reiki, and relaxation techniques. She has served as music coordinator and pianist for Vespers and the Service of Blessing and Healing at Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York for several years and has taught piano.

Empower Innovations is a means to recognize, experience and explore the power within, inviting healing and transformation. The strength of Mary's leadership through Empower Innovations is envisioning and creating programs to fit the unique needs of each individual gathering.

She has facilitated sessions from short introductory presentations to weekend retreats for church groups, spiritual centers, schools, and businesses. See the program page for ideas for your next group gathering.