Katie  Down
Vetted

Katie Down

She/Her/Hers

Music Therapist - Board Certified, MT-BC Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, LCAT Master of Arts, MA Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
New York Accepting Online

Sessions occur online via Zoom

Updated January 11, 2024

Specialties & Expertise

  • Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
  • Sound Healing and Reiki
  • Artists' mental health

Professional statement

Clients will often seek therapy with Katie to address anxiety and intrusive memories that are causing stress and depression symptoms related to trauma. Upon starting therapy, clients may feel apprehensive about EMDR or other techniques, but over time, the exploration of these proven modalities for healing will feel safe and achievable. EMDR sessions can address specific traumatic memories through carefully guided sessions, incorporating bilateral stimulation, and help clients to process and release traumatic memories safely and effectively.

Katie Down is trauma-informed psychotherapist, integrating comprehensive modalities like EMDR, MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), music psychotherapy and sound healing as a tailored and holistic treatment approach for trauma, anxiety, depression and related symptoms. She received her master's degree from NY in music psychotherapy, and post-graduate training with Dr. Laurel Parnell in EMDR and at the Trauma Studies Center at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy.

Katie is also an adjunct professor at the State University of New York at New Paltz in the music therapy program and is a regular guest presenter at NYU, The School of Visual Arts, and Vassar College and has been invited as a guest lecturer at Cal State Fullerton, and the University of Colorado in music and mindfulness. Katie has also presented for grand rounds and at professional development days at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Bronx Psychiatric Hospital, and Jamaica Hospital.

She runs training programs in sound therapy regularly through Maha Rose Center for Healing and UpSoul Center in Manhattan and her own space, Sound Well Creative Arts Therapy, an integrative healing space that allows for creative inquiry and self-expression.

Katie is currently seeing clients online and is taking new clients both online and in person in the Hudson Valley, NY.


Message to clients

I truly look forward to working together on your goals for well-being whether it is through music, creative explorations or just a safe place to talk and be heard. Therapy is a shared, collaborative experience that helps to uncover and discover parts of ourselves that may be unconscious or held back due to circumstances of life. Our shared therapeutic space (whether in person or online) is a sacred space where emotions, feelings, and thoughts can be explored and navigated safely together through non-judgmental, creative collaboration. I offer energy work, Reiki, sound, and verbal psychotherapy as part of an integrative approach to well-being and wholeness and offer initial consults for 15 minutes free of charge so you can get a chance to make the right decision for your path of healing.


Specialties

Trauma - Integrating various therapeutic modalities like EMDR, MBSR, creative arts therapies, and sound therapies can offer diverse avenues for healing and addressing the multifaceted aspects of trauma. The comprehensive approach considers the mind-body connection and provides clients with a range of tools to navigate their healing journey.

Anxiety - Anxiety often pulls us away from the present moment, either into worries about the future or ruminations about the past. Mindfulness-based techniques, breathwork, and guided imagery are powerful tools to anchor oneself in the present, fostering a sense of awareness and helping individuals detach from anxious thoughts.By integrating these somatic and body-focused approaches, I help my clients to regulate their central nervous system, providing them with helpful tools to manage their symptoms.

Depression - Addressing depression involves delving into its root causes, which can be interconnected with repressed emotions like anger, disappointment, or underlying unresolved traumas. Identifying these root causes and understanding their connection to depressive symptoms is a crucial step to healing and wellbeing and this can be addressed through art, music, somatic work, visualization as well as EMDR and MBSR which are proven to help lesson the symptoms and provide relief and release.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn, offers a structured approach to alleviate stress and promote overall well-being. Its emphasis on present-moment awareness, non-judgmental acceptance, and cultivating a sense of calm can be transformative in managing stress and anxiety.

Sound Healing and Reiki - Using sound in conjunction with Reiki and energetic touch has been utilized for healing purposes across cultures. Sound Healing provides a profound sense of connection, grounding, and safety. Specific tools used include singing bowls, tuning forks, voice, and other resonant instruments to create a sonic container and holding environment for release and balance.

Artists' mental health - My experience as a performer and creative arts therapist, provides me with a unique insight into the challenges artists face. Addressing anxiety around goal-setting, dealing with negative beliefs, and navigating psychological obstacles are critical aspects of supporting individuals in creative fields. Using tools in mindfulness, EMDR, art-making and deep listening, is an integrative approach I use to help artists move through challenges and find ways to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Cigna
  • Evernorth
  • NYU Student Health Insurance (Wellfleet / Cigna PPO)

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $225 (55min)
  • Sliding scale: $185 - $225
  • Initial session: $225 (55min)

Additional session information

Out-of-network billing options

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:

  • Super billing
  • Direct billing
Payment options
  • PayPal
  • Venmo
  • Zelle
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly
  • Every other week
  • As needed
Therapist's note

I offer a sliding scale for those in financial need. We can discuss your options when we have our phone consult.


Location(s)

Online Sessions (New York)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 12pm - 5pm
  • Tue 2pm - 7pm
  • Wed 12pm -5pm
  • Thu 9am - 12pm; 4pm - 6pm
  • Fri 10am - 4pm
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 15 years

SoundWell Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC, Owner, 2011 - Present
SUNY, New Paltz Music Therapy , Adjunct 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
Open Center Sound and Music Institute, Certificate , 2013
New York University, MMT , 2009
New England Conservatory of Music, MM, 1996
Berklee College of Music, BA, 1988


Licensure

New York: 001473-1


Languages

English


Publications

  • Katie
    Therapy with Katie Down

    We interviewed Katie Down and asked about their work with clients and guiding philosophies on therapy.