At the age of six, the once reticent Missy Fogarty stared belting out every note from Belafonte at Carengie Hall, and has yet to stop singing Later in life, she searched for a route to combine her passion for music making with the desire to help people, driven by her own personal struggles and the knowledge that music played a role in her healing process which lead her to music therapy. Today, she is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT). Particularly interested in the clinical application of music in psychotherapy, Missy completed a four year post-graduate certification program in Gestalt therapy from Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy and is a certified practitioner of Austin Vocal Psychotherapy, a music therapy model that specifically uses singing and improvisation in the psychotherapy process.
In institutional settings Missy has experience providing therapy to with preschool children with special needs, psychiatric patients in in-patient settings and patients recovering from drug addiction in both inpatient and outpatient settings in a variety of music-centered groups including drum circle, improvisation, songwriting, music listening, performance and recording production. Melissa enjoys interfacing with team members (e.g., teachers, parents, other therapists) about music therapy as it relates to a client’s treatment. She also enjoys giving music therapy presentations. For example, in 2019, Missy presented “Utilizing Songs and Songwriting in a Group Therapy Process” at the Innovative and Experiential Modalities on Trauma Care at Lehman College; has been a two-time panelist at the Eastman School of Music Performing Arts Medicine division discussing the role of music therapy and mental health (2022, 2021), and last year gave a presentation on A Career In Music Therapy at Opera America’s Alternative Careers Fair.
Missy is currently in private practice as a music psychotherapist with a variety of clients and is thrilled bout be on the BKCM music therapy team. She continues to maintain an active performing schedule singing and recording with a variety of groups. Recent highlights include an appearance at Joe’s Pub with Isle of Klezbos, collaborations with pianist Marc Peloquin on his Keyed Up! series, recordings with the new music ensemble Percussia, and a monthly stint at Tomi Jazz in midtown with her jazz quartet, The Highliners.
Education: MA, Music Therapy, New York University; BM, Applied Voice, Eastman School of Music: Post-Master’s Certification in Gestalt Therapy; Post Master’s Certification in Vocal Psychotherapy
