Kara Gerstein and Angela Reis

Music Therapist and Art Therapist, Stony Brook Medicine

Start Date: October 12, 2023

Kara Gerstein and Angela Reis believe in – and get to experience every day at work – the healing power of the arts. 

As music and art therapists, respectively, in Stony Brook Medicine’s Functional Therapeutic Activities department, these two new colleagues have the gratifying opportunity to put their talents, passion and compassion to work at Stony Brook University Hospital’s psychiatric ward. There they see, firsthand, the difference music and art, in therapeutic settings, can have on patients’ health, happiness and overall wellbeing.

Whether playing the guitar, piano, ukulele or other assorted instruments with patients, in group or one-on-one sessions, Kara says, “Working at Stony Brook University Hospital has provided me with great experience and opportunities to see the benefits music offers to psychiatric patients, firsthand.” She explains that “Music therapy is an evidence-based practice supported by research and clinical experience,” quoting the American Music Therapy Association’s statement:  "A music therapist's clinical practice is guided by the integration of the best available research evidence, the client's needs, values, and preferences, and the expertise of the clinician."

Both the music and art therapist roles Kara and Angela play require completion of a Master’s degree, clinical supervised hours for licensure and board certification.

And, both Kara and Angela stress the importance of tailoring therapy to patients’ individual needs and goals, knowing it’s ‘all about them.’

Says Angela, “Sometimes patients who come in don't really have much engagement with art.  But then when they come into the room, they might see things that inspire them, that open the door for them to try new things. And then we build off of that, and it becomes something they look forward to and want to do in their day.

“I’ve seen patients really gravitate towards art making and the art process itself, because it is so open and there’s no right or wrong. It’s just about expressing themselves and having fun. I really enjoy being here too, watching the patients use the art materials in a way that fits them best and helping them in that process.”