Hannah Pietra
MS, LCAT, MT-BC, (She/Her)
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
Board Certified Music Therapist
My Approach
I look at health as an active process and as a way of being. I look at the whole person, accepting them as they are, wherever they are in their life process. I practice the belief expressed by music therapist Ken Bruschia, “health is who we are as we experience ourselves and as we shape those experiences.”
My view of what health is as well as my own experiences with wellness has shaped my approach. When I was five, I was diagnosed with an Arterial Vein Malformation (AVM) in my left arm. This diagnosis played a major part in my childhood and continues to be part of my life. I have experienced first-hand how a single diagnosis or issue impacts multiple aspects of a person. My diagnosis was accompanied not only by various hospitalizations and medical tests, but anxiety and stress, pain, limits in my physical ability, self consciousness, fear, frustration, and doubt. These experiences led me to be hyper-aware of my own physical and mental health and to become interested in wellness.
My passion for creating music has also always been with me, motivating me and assisting me towards health.
My Background
Whether it has been professionally, therapeutically, or for leisure, music has always been a part of my life. Besides being a psychotherapist and music therapist, I am an active freelance cellist throughout New York State and perform with various orchestras and ensembles.
I was trained as a classical pianist and cellist and became part of the performing world at a young age. It was always satisfying to see how my music could create various emotional reactions among audience members. As I was working towards my undergraduate degree in cello performance, I realized that I wanted a career that encompassed my desire to be creative, develop relationships with others, and help individuals optimize their unique potentials and health.
On a subway ride, I had an “a-ha!” moment and discovered that I could combine my love for the arts and working with others, and decided to pursue a career as a creative arts therapist.