Rick Soshensky, MA, LCAT, MT- BC, NRMT, CBIS
Professional Profile
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Music Therapist since 1992 in diverse settings supervising staff, training students and treating children, adolescents and adults with diagnoses involving Mental Illness, Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Emotional/Behavioral Disturbances, Traumatic Brain Injury, Forensic Psychiatry, Physical Disabilities, Complex Medical Conditions, HIV/AIDS, Dementia
Music Therapist since 1992 in diverse settings supervising staff, training students and treating children, adolescents and adults with diagnoses involving Mental Illness, Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Emotional/Behavioral Disturbances, Traumatic Brain Injury, Forensic Psychiatry, Physical Disabilities, Complex Medical Conditions, HIV/AIDS, Dementia•Most Influential Person in Music Therapy Field (2008-09) - Therapy Times Magazine
Most Influential Person in Music Therapy Field (2008-09) - Therapy Times Magazine•New York State Health Facilities Association Innovative Practice Award (2007)
New York State Health Facilities Association Innovative Practice Award (2007)•Nationally Known Author and Lecturer with numerous journal articles, textbook chapters and lecture credits at universities, clinical facilities, seminars and conferences.
Nationally Known Author and Lecturer with numerous journal articles, textbook chapters and lecture credits at universities, clinical facilities, seminars and conferences. •Community music therapy initiatives including client performances in clinical, academic and professional settings as well as music video production and CD release of original client music w/airplay on major radio stations.
Community music therapy initiatives including client performances in clinical, academic and professional settings as well as music video production and CD release of original client music w/airplay on major radio stations.•Pioneered guitar techniques and theory at the world-renowned, primarily piano-based Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. Only third person in Nordoff-Robbins, history to utilize guitar as the primary instrument in post-master’s certification training
Pioneered guitar techniques and theory at the world-renowned, primarily piano-based Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. Only third person in Nordoff-Robbins, history to utilize guitar as the primary instrument in post-master’s certification training•Numerous major Print Media Feature Articles and Radio Features highlighting Rick's work (please see below for listing)
Numerous major Print Media Feature Articles and Radio Features highlighting Rick's work (please see below for listing) Professional Positions
Founder/Director
Essential Arts Creative Arts Therapy Programs 8/09 - present
8/09 - presentCommunity-based organization providing creative arts therapy services (music, art, dance, creative writing, film) for children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, emotional/behavioral problems or other significant challenges. Programs, individual and group sessions, custom-tailored in-house programs and alliances with other organizations/institutions.
Director: Fine & Performing Arts Department
Northeast Center for Special Care, Lake Katrine, NY 8/05 – 7/09
Rehabilitation Facility serving adults with Traumatic Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries and other complex medical conditions
Clinical Supervisor
Heartsong, Inc. Bronxville, NY 1/94 – 6/06
1/94 – 6/06Creative Arts Therapy Program for children-birth-teen, with emotional, developmental, physical disabilities
Senior Music Therapist/Student Supervisor
Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY 8/99 – 8/05
8/99 – 8/05Psychiatric Day Treatment Program and Psychotherapy Clinic for persons with HIV/AIDS and family members. Clients included children, adolescents and adults coping with psychiatric/emotional disturbances and multiple stressors involving medical problems, poverty, family violence, addiction, child abuse/neglect
Consulting Music Therapist 11/98 – 8/99
11/98 – 8/99Sara’s Center, Great Neck, NY
Creative Arts Therapy Day Treatment for adults with psychiatric illness
Birch School for Exceptional Children, Queens, NY
Special Education School for children and adolescents with developmental and emotional disorders
P.S. 4, Brooklyn, NY
Public Special Education for children (5 – 12) with developmental disabilities
Music Therapist/Creative Arts Therapy Staff Supervisor
Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY 10/97 – 11/98
10/97 – 11/98Assigned to MICA and Alcoholism Day Treatment Programs, Detox Unit and Forensic Unit
Music Therapist/Creative and Holistic Arts Staff Supervisor
South Brooklyn Health Center, Brooklyn, NY 6/95 – 10/97
6/95 – 10/97Day Treatment Program serving adults with HIV/AIDS diagnoses and Substance Abuse issues
Music Therapist
Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Brooklyn, NY 1/92 – 8/94
1/92 – 8/94 Day Treatment Program serving adults with dementia diagnoses
Selected Lecture Topics Presented by Rick Soshensky at Universities, Clinical Facilities, Seminars and Conferences
- Music Therapy and Addiction
- A Guitar-Based Approach in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
- Clinical Songwriting
- The Art of Clinical Guitar
- Music Therapy with Emotionally Disturbed Children
- The Role of Aesthetics in Music Therapy
- The Community Arts Model in Brain Injury Treatment: Creating a Culture of Healing and Well-Being
- Community Music Therapy with Traumatic Brain Injury Patients
- The Role of the Fine and Performing Arts in Post Acute Rehabilitation
Degrees and Certifications
New York Licensed Creative Arts Therapist - LCAT (2011)
American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists
CBIS (2008)
Certification Board for Music Therapists MT-BC (2006)
Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy NRMT - Post-Master’s
Certification (2002)
American Association of Music Therapists CMT (1995)
New York University M.A. in Music Therapy (1995)
State University of Buffalo B.A. in Psychology (1978)
Publications
Soshensky, R. (2011). Everybody is a star: Performing, recording and community music therapy. Music therapy perspectives. Fall/Winter issue. (scheduled for upcoming publication).
Soshensky, R. (2010). Music: The language of well being. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. http://www.mcknights.com/ July 6.
Soshensky, R. (2010). Book Review: Every Note Counts. Music therapy perspectives: Fall/Winter issue.
Soshensky, R. (2009). Music therapy after brain injury. www.lapublishing.com
Soshensky, R. (2008). Releasing a CD of Original Client Music to the Public as an Aspect of Brain Injury Treatment: A Contemporary Music Therapy Perspective. Brainline.org
Soshensky, R. (2008). Music Therapy Can Help Individuals with Brain Injury. Lash & Associates Publications/Training
Soshensky, R. (2007). Musical community: Music therapy at Northeast Center for Special Care. Northeast Center for Special Care Newsletter. January
Soshensky, R. (2007). Substance use disorders. In C. Colwell & B. Crowe, (Eds.) Best practices in music therapy with psychiatric disorders: Children, adolescents and adults. Colesville, MD: American Music Therapy Association
Soshensky, R. (2007). Children with emotional disturbances. In C. Colwell & B. Crowe, (Eds.) Best practices in music therapy with psychiatric disorders: Children, adolescents and adults. Colesville, MD: American Music Therapy Association
Soshensky, R. (2005). Developing a guitar-based approach in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. Music therapy perspectives: vol. 23 (2)
Soshensky, R. (2005). Book Review: Therapy in music with handicapped children (reissue). Nordic journal of music therapy. March 4
Soshensky, R. (2004). Book Review: Action therapy with families and groups. Music therapy perspectives: 22(1)
Soshensky, R. (2002). The guitar in Nordoff-Robbins: A balance of tradition and potential. Musicing:The newsletter of the international association of Nordoff-Robbins music therapists
Soshensky, R. (2001). Music therapy and addiction. Music therapy perspectives: 19 (1)
Print, Radio & Web Media Featuring the Work of Rick Soshensky
“Feel Good Friday” on Kingston Community Radio hosted by Tony Marmo, Nina Postupack & Lou Kirshner. WGHK-AM. Interview w/ Rick Soshensky, July 30, 2010.
"The Health Show" on National Public Radio - "Traumatic Brain Injury: Healing with Creativity" Feb. 22, 2009
"Adding Music to the Mix" - Therapy Times, Dec. 15, 2008
New York University Alumni News - Rick Soshensky Profile, Dec. 2008
NYU/Nordoff-Robbins Center Web News: Rick Soshensky's Award of Therapy Times' "Most Influential" Dec. 2008
"Rick Soshensky: Evoking Self-Awareness Through the Arts" - Therapy Times’Annual List of Most Influential Clinicians, Researchers & Leaders, Nov. 2008
"Good Thinking" - HV Biz, (Hudson Valley Business Online Magazine) Nov. 17, 2008
"Anything Goes!" Internationally Syndicated Radio - Interview with Rick Soshensky Oct. 27, 2008
"Fine Arts a Tool in Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury" - Today's Advocate Magazine, Oct. 2008
"Let the Music Heal Your Soul" - Ulster Publishing's Annual Guide to Mid-Hudson Health Services, (cover story) Aug. 2008
“Performing Health” - Woodstock Times, Nov. 2007
"The Morning Show with Greg Gattine", WDST-FM Woodstock. Interview with Rick Soshensky, Nov. 5, 2007
"Guitar in Nordoff-Robbins: A New Tradition" - Musicing: The Newsletter of the International Association of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapists, June 2006
