Sound Well Creative Arts Therapy is a holistic, integrative psychotherapy and wellness practice providing trauma-informed care through mindfulness, somatic work, and creativity.
Katie Down, LCAT, MT-BC, MMT, MM, is a licensed creative arts therapist and board-certified music therapist who incorporates Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Creative Arts Therapies, EMDR and Somatic Psychotherapy in her clinical work. She is certified in EMDR Level 3 and Reiki II.
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Katie is an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz' graduate music therapy program and her private practice is based in the Hudson Valley and NYC both in person and on Zoom.
At various centers including Maha Rose , Brooklyn Music School, Matagiri, and her studio in the Hudson Valley, Katie offers sound bath meditations and trainings for music therapists, clinicians and healing arts practitioners and is available for consultations on how to incorporate sound and music in clinical practice and in the workplace for organizations wanting to learn more about how sound and music affect our overall health and wellbeing.
Creative Arts Therapies
The psychoanalyst Carl Jung is quoted as saying that "The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity." Creative Arts Therapies are steeped in the philosophy that we learn more about ourselves and the world through play. When we are in the creative act, we begin to make order out of the chaos of our mind and emotional state and we can begin to understand and appreciate a deeper, more intimate part of who we are through expressive movement, visual art, music, creative writing, and listening. By engaging in our creative self with curiosity we can begin to learn and grow by leaps and bounds. Each session has a talk element to be able to process our creative inquiry and to hold space for the unfolding and opening in each session.
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EMDR
Dr. Besel van der Kolk , MD, describes EMDR as one of the most effective methods for alleviating the symptoms of trauma in the body and he discusses how trauma affects not only our mind but the whole body in his book "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma." EMDR is a somatic technique that stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, developed by the psychologist, Francine Shapiro for the purpose of alleviating the distress associated with traumatic memories and symptoms. I have worked with many clients using EMDR to great affect and I highly recommend this approach for anyone seeking relief from symptoms of trauma and PTSD.
Reiki and Sound
Reiki is based on the principle that the universal life force energy flows naturally through all of us. Through light touch and energy, Reiki invites equanimity, calm, and release of tension and stress through activating the natural healing processes of the body-mind by gently opening and guiding the client into homeostasis. The combination of Reiki and sound helps to balance the autonomic nervous system through vibration of the bio-field.
Sound Baths
Sound Baths are deep listening experiences incorporating a wide variety of drone instruments such as gongs, Himalayan and alchemy crystal singing bowls, monochords, and ceremonial drums and bells, flutes, etc. The way in which a sound bath is facilitated and guided promotes a parasympathetic nervous system response for optimal wellbeing and a sense of grounding and safety in the journey. We incorporate breath work, visualization, gentle movement, and essential oils to open the mind and heart for this inner journey of healing and transformation.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, created by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, provides tools to help create space and allow for non-judgmental observation of ourselves and our external world. When we can pause and observe, it gives us the opportunity to have compassion for ourselves and each other, and begin to understand how to thoughtfully and mindfully respond to external stimuli that would otherwise cause distress. MSBR provides support for navigating awareness and acceptance of behaviors, patterns and habits that keep us from living our best life.
Workplace Wellness
I have worked with a number of businesses including schools, hospitals, universities, spiritual communities and corporations in providing guided meditation, group workshops, and full sound baths for staff wellness and overall wellbeing in the workplace for a sustainable and joyful working environment for all. Fill out the CONTACT form to schedule your next Workplace Wellness retreat or event!
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Clinical Supervision
Healing arts practitioners from MDs to massage therapists, spend most of their time working for the benefit of others. I offer clinical supervision through the lens of self-care as a key component of the on-going inquiry, development and insight into and around healing work. I offer both group and individual supervision for practitioners of all walks of life and can come for site visits to hospitals, care centers, and other places of business focusing on health care and wellness.