Katie Down
She/Her/Hers
Music Therapist - Board Certified, MT-BC Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, LCAT Master of Arts, MAShe/Her/Hers
Music Therapist - Board Certified, MT-BC Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, LCAT Master of Arts, MAKatie Down, (LCAT, MT-BC, MMT) is a music psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience and specializes in EMDR for reduction of symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Our brain's plasticity allows for growth and development by incorporating specific techniques found in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques. Using creative inquiry including creative writing, music improvisation, sound healing, song writing, lyric analysis, visualization and deep listening meditation, we can tap into subconscious material that may be causing disruptions in our natural state of flow and connection.
Katie's clients have found relief of on-going symptoms of trauma and PTS through 6 to 8-week sessions of EMDR, as well as on-going mindfulness-based psychotherapy using music, sound, and breath-work to help regulate the central nervous system.
Katie's approach to therapeutic work stems from a humanistic philosophy that everyone deserves a space for non-judgmental listening and acceptance in order to recognize our strengths and areas for growth and greater insight into the self.
For music therapy clients, there is no musical experience or knowledge needed. Clients engage in musicking through creative play and improvisation, vocal toning, song-writing and poetry with sound as well as more receptive techniques that include sound bath meditation and song analysis.
Katie also runs free music therapy groups through the Angel Band Project for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence for 6-8 week sessions based in New York.
Music Psychotherapy - Music can be a way for us to feel safe and help to express the inexpressible when words are not enough. Like "regular" verbal psychotherapy, music psychotherapy allows clients to unpack feelings and express emotions in a safe space with the use of music and sound, creative visualization, voice, movement, songwriting, lyric analysis, music listening, and sound healing modalities.
Trauma - I incorporate EMDR and somatic awareness to help clients reduce symptoms of trauma by being able to process trauma safely and effectively. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization. I use tappers or body tapping with the same efficacy for calming the nervous system, grounding, and creating a safe environment for processing difficult material and emotions. I also run a group in NYC called The Angel Band Project that offers free music therapy for 8 weeks at NYU in the Fall and Spring.
Mindfulness - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is a technique created by Buddhist teacher, Jon Kabat-Zinn. It has been proven to quickly and affectively help with managing stress, creating a sense of calm and wellbeing, and acceptance of what is happening in the moment non-judgmentally. Together, we will work with MBSR techniques to help you reduce stress and anxiety and manage these areas that may be affecting areas of your life.
Anxiety - Anxiety is something we all deal with and it exists in our ideas about future events or things that might happen in the future as a result of something that happened in the past. Through breath, somatic awareness and mindfulness, we can help you to manage and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Depression - Depression can be attributed to on-going issues that seem insurmountable and negative narratives of our sense of self. We will work together on identifying the root causes of depression, how to manage the symptoms of depression, and release emotions of anger, disappointment, or anxiety-based feelings through MBSR, creative visualization and somatic awareness exercises.
Artists' mental health - As a performer myself, and a daughter of artists, understand that stressors that can come up in a career in the arts. Together, we will work towards goal setting, plans, vision and mission statements, and look at any blocks that may be presenting themselves. Mindfulness, creative visualization, and creative improvisation are tools that can unlock areas of being stuck or trapped in a negative narrative and help to move through psychological obstacles in order to flourish and flow.
Katie Down is accepting clients paying listed fees or using health insurance out-of-network benefits other than:
Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.
This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:
Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.
I offer a sliding scale for those in financial need. We can discuss your options when we have our phone consult. The sliding scale starts at $150
Years of Experience: 13 years
SoundWell Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC, Director, 2011 - Present
SUNY, New Paltz Music Therapy , Associate Professor, Music Therapy. , 2020 - Present
Brooklyn Music School, Former Chair and current Consultant Music Therapy Dept. , 2018 - Present
The Angel Band Project at NYU, Lead Music Therapist and NY Coordinator, 2018 - Present
You Can Thrive, Music and Sound Therapist, 2016 - Present
Sound School Maha Rose Center for Healing, Co-Director, 2016 - Present
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Music therapist, 2016 - 2018
King’s County Hospital, Music therapist, 2010 - 2013
Gracie Square Hospital, Music therapist, 2011 - 2012
CNR Health Care Network, Music therapist, 2009 - 2009
Parnell Institute, EMDR Certified Levels 1, 2, & 3, 2017
New York University, MMT , 2009
New England Conservatory of Music, MM, 1996
Berklee College of Music, BA, 1988
New York: 001473-1
English