Cathy Bollinger, MA,MT-BC,NMT
Cathy Bollinger, MA, MT-BC, NMT
Music Therapist
Cathy Bollinger is a board certified music therapist, children’s songwriter and performer. For the last twenty-five years she has worked with children of all ages and abilities in a variety of settings. Her music therapy experience includes work with children and adults with developmental and neurological disabilities including brain injuries, intellectual disabilities, and autism. She currently provides individual and group music therapy sessions at Innisfree Village, Albemarle County Schools, Valley Community Services Board and the Bridgeline. Cathy also teaches music and provides music enrichment classes at St. Mark pre-school.
Cathy has performed countless music workshops and school assemblies across the country. Her parent/teacher workshops demonstrate how to use music to teach essential skills to young children. Cathy has produced eleven children’s CD’s which have been nationally recognized by Parent’s Choice Awards, the American Library Association, and Parenting Magazine. Her music encompasses a range of educational topics such as early reading skills, healthy habits, and social skills. Cathy is fueled by a strong belief in the power of music to nurture, teach, and inspire!
Cathy received a master’s degree in music therapy from Drexel University (formerly Hahnemann University,) completed her internship at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children in Richmond, VA and received certification for neurological music therapy at the Academy of Neurological Music Therapy.
Learn more about Cathy at Rivanna Music.
OFFERINGS
- Music Therapy
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Music Lessons
- Song Writing
EXPANDING LANGUAGE THROUGH SONG:
Crozet Speech & Learning Center has collaborated with Cathy to produce a special music therapy offering. Songs target specific language concepts taught in speech and language therapy sessions. Many of the songs were created and sung by students at Crozet Speech & Learning Center.
My daughter (5 years) has been in music therapy with Ms. Cathy for over a year. Music therapy has proved to be such a fun way for her to "do" speech therapy! She sings along with songs, saying words that she would refuse to try in speech therapy. She is also practicing turn taking, good eye contact, and following directions, not to mention the fine motor skills needed to play the instruments. Ms. Cathy is encouraging, creative, sincere, and generous with her time! We are so lucky to have Ms. Cathy on the team of doctors and therapists who are helping our daughter to thrive.