Hi, I’m Ricky.
I provide individual and group music psychotherapy, professional supervision, and continuing education materials for music therapists.
Welcome to Practical Music Therapy, a community therapy resource that prioritizes accessible support and education with clear applications to people’s daily lives.
My Approach
Collaborative
You are the expert of your own experience. I’m here to support you, with my experience, training, and expertise, as we work together towards the goals you choose.
Practical
Whether you’re a therapy participant, supervisee, or student, you should come away from our work with a clear sense of how to apply it to your daily life.
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12+ Years of Professional Music Therapy Experience
Inpatient/outpatient adult mental health, kids and young adults with neurodevelopmental differences, and Telehealth private practice.
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Professional Music Therapy Supervision
I have over 5 years of experience providing music therapy supervision through the New York University Music Therapy Graduate program as an fieldwork supervisor, intern supervisor, and visiting internship supervisor, as well as for professional music therapists.
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Graduate Level Music Therapy Educator
Over 7 years of music therapy teaching experience including adjunct professor at NYU's graduate music therapy program, NYU music therapy guest lecturer, and AMTA-approved provider of Continuing Music Therapy Education Credits (CMTEs), as well as national and international presentations related to trauma and music pyschotherapy.
Online, Self-Paced Music Therapy Courses
Guitar Improv Accelerator For Music Therapists (GIAMT) - 7 CMTEs
Gain the confidence to walk into any clinical situation with a guitar in your hand. This course covers self-care techniques to make sure you can have a long career, picking and strumming techniques to increase your range of expression and build trust in your internal rhythm, chord options that give you flexibility when supporting others, and strategies for using the guitar to stay present, musically fresh, and to let your clinical sense guide your playing (and not the other way around).
How To Facilitate a Music Therapy Songwriting Group - A Practical Guide
A practical approach and complete template for bringing focus and inspiration to this powerful music therapy intervention. In addition to a full group template, this course provides visual demonstrations of an actual songwriting group, as well as alternative structures and other considerations.
Coming soon!
Guitar Improv Accelerator for Music Therapists II: Applying Your Skills to the Therapy Process
Take all those guitar skills you have and any you gained from GIAMT and learn how to apply them to various parts of the music therapy process. Grounded in trauma research and theory by Judith Herman, Gillian Stephens Langdon, Bessel Van der Kolk, and others, this course gives aspiring and professional music therapists a helpful and practical framework to guide their clinical interventions on guitar.
Coming soon!
What Clients are Saying
"I always look forward to my sessions with you, even on hard days."
Former client
"You gave me my relationship with my daughter back."
Former client
Get in Touch!
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss individual/group therapy, music therapy supervision, or continuing education resources. A consultation is a great opportunity to ask me any questions about my practice and see if I’m the right fit for your therapy or supervision needs.
FAQ
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Music therapy is an evidenced-based therapy practice provided by a board-certified, licensed* therapist trained in psychology, music, and music therapy. Music gives therapy participants a variety of safe, healthy ways to approach, explore, gain insight into, and process complex emotional and relational experiences. In sessions, music can be used through instrumental and vocal improvisation, listening and analyzing songs that are meaningful to you, songwriting, recording, singing, moving to music, and much more. Sometimes words just aren’t enough, and in those moments a creative outlet like music can be used to get past blocks or defenses in order to process the challenges, struggles, and successes of life.
*licensure depends on the state and typically requires a graduate degree. Not all music therapists are licensed. I am a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in the state of New York and earned a M.A. in Music Therapy from New York University.
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No. Most people I have worked with in music therapy have no formal music training or experience. We are all musical from before we're born and can harness that innate musicality to meet your therapy goals. That said, if we decide that musical interventions aren't appropriate for your goals, we don't have to use them.
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Click the “Therapy” above to learn more about my therapy style and offerings.
If you have never worked with a therapist, I recommend this youtube series on choosing a therapist that’s right for you:
"Do you want to learn how to vet a therapist?" ← click to watch the video
When you’re ready, please reach out for a free 30-minute consultation by clicking the “Schedule a free consultation” button at the top of the page. The consultation is an opportunity to see if I’m a good fit for your therapy needs and comes with no commitment. You can use this time to ask questions about my practice and share what you’re hoping to get out of therapy.
If you’re in need of professional supervision, click on the “Supervision” tab above to learn more about my approach/philosophy and schedule a free consultation to talk about working together.
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I do not accept insurances and have a flat rate of $125 for a 60 minute therapy or supervision session.
However, costs should not be a barrier to seeking support. I offer sliding scale pricing for individual/group therapy and music therapy supervision. Please reach out and I can provide more information.
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Timelines depend on the therapy guide (an evolving document) we would create together in the first 1-3 sessions, and revisit during the course of therapy. My goal is that you leave each session with a clarity about what is being worked on and the timeline of that work in therapy. You should never have to ask yourself “Why am I in therapy?” or “Why am I still in therapy?”