Biography


Kate Taylor has practiced as a board certified music therapist since 1999 and holds a Master of Arts degree in Music Therapy from Saint Mary of the Woods College.  Ms. Taylor began her clinical training at the Tinley Park Mental Health Center implementing music therapy treatment protocols for drug relapse prevention groups of adults living with mental illness and developmental delays.  Upon completion of her clinical internship in adult psychology, Kate began work with the Institute for Therapy through the Arts, a creative arts agency part of the Music Institute of Chicago.  At the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA), Kate rapidly increased the community and school based outreach programs for children in the special education system.  After this program development and completion of music therapy research with Autism and Rett Syndrome spectrum disorders, Kate moved on to fulfill the role of music therapy department coordinator.  As the department chair, Kate had the pleasure of developing co-treatment models of music therapy that integrated all other creative arts like art therapy, dance/movement therapy, and psychodrama.  The other creative arts therapists on the team helped Ms. Taylor develop her unique clinical skills and holistic approach to creative arts.  After departing from ITA, Kate was called to work in hospice and end of life care as a music therapist at Seasons Hospice of Illinois.  Here, Ms. Taylor was blessed to be able to provide music therapy for those facing terminal illness.  She supported patients and their loved ones through the stages of dying and end of life transition.   During her time serving hospice patients, Kate learned about clinical applications for music therapy in fields of medicine, bereavement and spirituality.  After the birth of her first child in 2007, Kate accepted the calling to become trained as a labor support doula.  Since that time, Kate has passionately integrated her knowledge of music and its effect on the brain and body into her experience and understanding of normal birth processes.  Kate has been called a pioneer in the field of music therapy assisted childbirth, working directly with researchers and developers to provide outcome based measures for music therapy in birth care.  Kate is a specialist of the Sound Birthing Music(™) method of music therapy assisted childbirth and certified to teach childbirth education using the Creative Arts Birthing (TM)  method for prenatal education.  Kate is currently offering training programs that integrate creative arts and music for board certified music therapists, doulas and other birth professionals.  Ms. Taylor has presented her work at national and international conferences for music therapy, birth psychology and parenting.  

Kate Taylor is available to assist all types of births including hospital, birthing center, home births and water births.  Fees for Servicesare adjusted based on your needs, goals for childbirth and desires for creative arts services.  Please don't hesitate to call Kate for a personalized assessment to help determine a budget for your ideal birth. 

"I feel uniquely qualified to assist women in labor, especially using music as a comfort measure because of my extensive background in music therapy, my skills as a therapist and my understanding of the birth process.  My experience co-treating with art therapists, dance/movement therapists, drama therapists and clinical psychologists have helped me integrate creative arts experiences into your birth preparation and comfort measures for labor.  The programs I offer to you are uniquely personalized and customized for your needs.  I look forward to helping you embrace your birth and be empowered through creativity." 


Clinical Experience


2009-Current        Creative Childbirth Concepts  Owner, Birth Doula, Board Certified Music Therapist


2007-current    Music Therapy 4 Me Owner, Consultant, Board Certified Music Therapist

.

2003-06       Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care   Board Certified Music Therapist, Psychosocial team member  


1999-2003       Institute for Therapy Through the Arts  Music Therapy Coordinator/Department Chair



Kate Taylor, MA, MT-BC, Doula


®

It's your birth.  Be creative.TM  216-704-6595

216-704-6595

I believe:


  • birth is a normal process.
  • you deserve a satisfying birth, no matter how you give birth, you should feel satisfied.
  • you are in charge of your own birth and that I am the invited guest.
  • you have internal resources that you can draw upon during childbirth.
  • everyone is creative and is impacted in some way by art, music, movement and imagery.






Research

Empowering Women for Birth Through Creative Arts Birthing
(2013, November) Poster session at the AAAPAH Birth Psychology International Congress; Monterery, CA.  Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth: FAQs
2013  University Of Illinois Chicago,  Honors Program Music Medicine; Chicago, IL Welcoming Allison:  Music Therapy for Childbirth
2008  Great Lakes Regional Music Therapy Conference, Lombard, IL 

Innovative Music Therapy for Childbirth
2007    La Leche League International Conference, Chicago, IL.  Compassion Fatigue Syndrome and Music Therapy for Caregivers, Nursing Staff and Social Workers
2005    University of Chicago Hospitals 2005    Delnor Community Hospital Music Therapy in Hospice Care-Hospice Music Therapists of Chicago panel speaker 2005     American Music Therapy Association Great Lakes Regional Conference      2004     Illinois Music Therapy Association State Meeting


It's your birth.  Be creative.TM 


As your doula, I will:


  • provide emotional support, reassurance and perspective to you and your partner and make suggestions for comfort as your labor progresses.
  • make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor.
  • discuss your priorities and concerns, assess your needs and explore your resources for birth.

Advanced Clinical Training

2012    Waterbirth Certificate Training – Waterbirth International

2007    Doula Trained – Association of Labor Assistants & Childbirth Educators (ToLabor)

2005    Certificate in End of Life Care Music Therapy – Natl. Center for End of Life Music Therapy

2004    Bonny Method of Guided Imagery & Music, Level I - Association for Music and Imagery

2004    Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth, Childbirth Educator &Labor Assistant - Sound Birthing

                            2003    Advanced Clinical Improvisation I - Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy

                                                                              2003    Neurologic Music Therapy Certificate training - Center for Biomedical Research in Music