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About Us

Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches (CATPB) is a privately-held Music and Art Therapy practice specializing in developing and implementing music and art therapy programs for educational, medical and community settings. Trained and certified CATPB music therapists utilize music to address the physical, psychological, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs of our clients.

CATPB Mission

CATPB exists to cultivate health and wellness through the creative arts therapies, provide a network for creative arts therapists and our supporters, and share relevant resources worldwide.

Philosophy of Care

CATPB is committed to compassionate person-focused care. We believe that the most effective treatment of any illness or condition involves addressing the needs of the ‘whole person.’ Music and art in a therapeutic context effectively achieves this aim. At CATPB, we provide therapy sessions that are designed to meet the specific needs of the individual in multiple areas of functioning. We implement the use of music and art as a non-threatening platform for therapy, and provide a positive & safe environment for learning, growing, recuperating, and expression.

The goals of CATPB are to increase the quality of life of our patients by:

  • Promoting Overall Wellness through Music
  • Providing Success-Oriented Experiences
  • Facilitating Growth and Development

In accordance with the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) standards of clinical practice, CATPB develops our programs to address specific goals and objectives, and to document the progress of these goals throughout treatment. We believe that the benefits of music therapy are both observable and measurable.

About the Founder

Catherine Nielsen is a board-certified music therapist, and has clinical experience in music therapy with clients of all ages. With a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from Charleston Southern University, in South Carolina, Catherine is proficient in piano, guitar, violin, and voice. Catherine is a credentialed music therapist by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT), and a member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), and the Florida Association for Music Therapy (FAMT). Catherine completed her internship training at the largest hospice music therapy program in the nation, Hospice of Palm Beach County.

In addition to music therapy, Catherine has a background in early childhood education. After working for two years as a teacher at a private preschool in Palm Beach County, and after receiving her music therapy credentials, she began the first “Step into Music” program at the school. In founding the Palm Beach Music Therapy Institute, Catherine and her team are able to offer the opportunity for more people to experience the benefits of music therapy by developing high-quality programs for both educational and medical settings, giving presentations to raise awareness of music therapy, and by offering private-consultation services.

“I’ve always loved music, loved helping people, and have had an interest in both medical and educational settings. Music therapy is the medium through which I’m able to make a real difference in the lives of those I’m fortunate enough to work with. The amazing part about music therapy is that everyone can benefit – no matter what age, despite any illness, and regardless of educational level. Music reaches people at the core of who they are, and that’s why it’s such an effective tool in therapy.”

Catherine Nielsen, MT-BC
Founder