Our Staff Meet the CATPB Team
Catherine Nielsen, MT-BC
Founder and Music Therapist
(she/her)
Catherine 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 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.
Bree Gordon, MT-BC
Music Therapist, Director of Creative Arts Therapies, Internship Director, & Managing Partner
(she/her)
Bree earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy with a concentration in voice from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. After completing a 6-month internship in hospice care, she also received training and certification from the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy at Colorado State University. Bree currently works as a trauma informed music therapist, specializing in working with survivors of violent traumas, adults with neurodegenerative disorders and oncology patients. In addition to her fieldwork, Bree leads the clinical team at CATPB as Director of Creative Arts Therapies, implementing and overseeing music and art therapy programs throughout Southeast Florida. In 2021 Bree launched a university-affiliated music therapy internship program which continues to grow through partnerships with universities around the country. In addition to her work as a music therapist and business owner, Bree is a mom/stepmom to 3 awesome kids and a golden retriever, wife, elder rights advocate, volunteer, public speaker, author and podcast host.
Bailey Eklof, MT-BC, NICU-MT
Music Therapist, Clinical Lead, and Internship Field Supervisor
(she/her)
Bailey earned her degree in Music Therapy from the University of Evansville in Indiana. Her primary instrument is voice and she is proficient on guitar and piano. She completed her internship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida and obtained her MT-BC. In joining CATPB, she has worked in addiction recovery, mental health, adult and pediatric medical settings, with foster children, and with neurodegenerative diseases. She also obtained her NICU-MT certification. She loves creating heartbeat songs and songwriting. Bailey resides in Boynton Beach, Florida with her husband, Ben, and goldendoodle, Toast.
Camille Spooner, MT-BC
Music Therapist and Internship Field Supervisor
(she/her)
Camille is a board-certified music therapist, with a diverse background in the expressive arts. She received a Master of Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University, following the completion of a 6-month internship at Trustbridge Hospice. She also received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, from Texas Christian University. Camille is a classically trained singer and studied as an emerging professional artist, at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria. She is also proficient in piano and guitar. Camille has spent multiple years working with clients in addiction recovery, providing creative art services throughout the South Florida region. She has also worked in various environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, residences, and rehabilitation settings.
Contracted Therapists
Linda Maniscalco, ATR-BC, LCAT, UZIT
Art Therapist & Urban Zen Integrative Therapist
(she/her)
Linda is a Licensed, Board Certified Art Therapist and a Certified Urban Zen Integrative Therapist. Linda has worked as a private practitioner, and in various facilities that address mental illness, brain injury, addiction, senior care and physical rehabilitation. Linda attained degrees in Photography, Studio Art, Art History, and a Masters in Art Therapy after raising her four, now adult, children.[/one_third] [/one_third]
Megan Foont, ATR-BC
Art Therapist
(she/her)
Originally from Tennessee, Megan received her Bachelor of Arts with a Psychology minor from Auburn University and a Master’s in Art Therapy with a Specialization in Counseling at Seton Hill University outside of Pittsburgh. With an internship specializing in holistic hospital care for woman’s health, she has a passion for pursuing self-expression, self-worth, and connection of mind, body, and spirit.
With 6 years of experiences in South Florida, she has worked with individuals struggling with the disease of addiction, mental health, hospice and palliative patients, virtual self-discovery “zoom art therapy” and seniors. When she is not working, she loves traveling with her husband, spend time with family, do all things water (fishing, boating, snorkeling, etc.) reading, and making art.
Alicia Ballestas, ATR-BC
Art Therapist
(she/her)
Alicia Ballestas is a bilingual Board-Certified Art Therapist. Alicia is a graduate of Long Island University, C.W Post, and currently works for Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a Clinical Art Therapist supporting the social and emotional health of students with developmental and emotional disorders. Alicia has experience providing services to immigrants and foster families. After the Parkland shooting in 2018, she has been providing art therapy services for the community where she grew up as an adolescent. Alicia enjoys exploring, going to the beach and finds running to be a meditative experience.
Laura Edge, MT-BC
Music Therapist
(she/her)
Laura has always had a passion for music and the therapeutic effects of Client-preferred music. Laura is
a Board-Certified Music Therapist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has a Certificate in Cognitive
Behavior Therapy. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education in Music Therapy degree from the
University of Kansas. During her internship in Quincy, Pennsylvania, she worked with Elders in assisted
living, skilled nursing and dementia units. Laura also worked with a daycare on campus and provided
intergenerational groups on a weekly basis. As a Music Therapist for over the past twenty years, she has
provided individual and group sessions for Elders, Hospice Patients, Substance use treatment Clients,
and persons with mental health issues. Laura has also been a vocalist for community theatre
productions, as well as a soloist and choir member for various Churches and Synagogues over the years. Laura earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University in 2013. She is a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is in private practice. As an LCSW, Laura utilizes strengths-based,
CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), and evidenced-based music therapy approaches to empower and
support the clients with whom she serves. Laura specializes in grief & loss (including pet loss),
depression, anxiety, substance use/recovery, & caregiver stress. Laura is very thankful to be a part of the PBMTI/CATPB Family since 2010.
Meghan Hanley, MT-BC
Music Therapist & Internship Field Supervisor
(she/her)
Meghan attained her bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where her primary instrument was the piano. In addition to her primary instrument, Meghan is also proficient in the viola and the organ. Meghan completed her 6-month accredited internship at Key Changes Therapy Services in South Carolina and began working with the private practice, Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches, shortly afterwards. She works with varied groups, from early education to older adults with memory disorders, and is NICU-MT certified (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Music Therapy).
Sarah Sparrow, MT-BC
Music Therapist
(she/her)
Sarah Sparrow has been a board-certified music therapist and per-diem employee at CATPB since 2012, and has clinical experience in both oncology and hospice inpatient settings, as well as substance abuse, neurologic, and geriatric populations. In 2011, Sarah graduated with her BM in Music Therapy from East Carolina University with a concentration in voice. She completed her required six-month internship at Hospice of Palm Beach County. Sarah is proficient in voice, piano, and guitar, and performs occasionally as a vocalist in the area. She also homeschools her three children, utilizing her clinical skills to adapt pre-made plans to “chase the spark” for beautiful, meaningful, and valuable educational experiences at home.
Jackie Abreu, MT-BC
Music Therapist
(she/her)
Jackie Abreu graduated from the University of Miami with a major in Music Therapy and a minor in psychology. Jackie did her internship at Albert J Solnit Center in Middletown, CT, a state hospital for adolescents with a history of trauma and mental illness. Throughout undergrad, Jackie got to experience working with various populations, such as adults in Hospice and Palliative Care, children with developmental disabilities, children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and children who were medically fragile. With CATPB, Jakcie has continued to work with various populations such as older adults in assisted living facilities and Alzheimer’s care, adults in addiction recovery, adolescents and adults with disabilities and other related diagnoses. Outside of work, Jackie enjoys roller skating, playing guitar, spending time with loved ones, and running around with her dogs, Suki and Shadow. Jackie also enjoys learning new songs, not just for music therapy purposes, but for self-care.
Hilary Verçosa-Kaufman, ATR-BC
Art Therapist
(she/her)
Hillary Verçosa-Kaufman (she/her/hers) is a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She received a Masters Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Hillary is currently located in Boynton Beach, FL. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and has lived and worked in various US cities including Chicago, Boston, Santa Fe and internationally in Italy and Brazil. Hillary has worked as an art therapist for over 10+ years and worked in a variety of settings including the Employee Assistance Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a transitional living shelter for youth, community support for adults with chronic mental illness, public school systems, and an art gallery empowering artists living with disability and/or homelessness across the US. She had the opportunity to start and build various art therapy programs including the first art therapy program at Thresholds, one of the largest mental health agencies in Chicago. Hillary’s approach to art therapy is a collaborative process between client, therapist, and the art media– no previous art experience is required. She meets each client where they are to provide a safe, nurturing space and guide with materials and ideas in support of therapeutic goals and personal exploration. As an artist, Hillary maintains a practice focused on “Altered Books” (using an old or discarded book as an art material to transform) and mixed media arts. Studying art therapy ignited Hillary’s own self- exploration through the art process and she brings this wisdom and depth of experience to meet each client in their unique journey.