Molly Guinan, MT-BC
Molly Guinan, a board-certified music therapist, is a co-founder of Crescent City Music Therapy. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and minor is Psychology in 2015. She completed her music therapy internship at River Oaks Hospital in New Orleans, serving individuals in varied inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment programs, including specialized programs for detox/chemical dependency, trauma/PTSD, and eating disorders. After becoming board-certified, Molly continued to work as a Music Therapist in several psychiatric and substance use treatment facilities in the Greater New Orleans area, served as a life skills counselor with a transitional housing program for women experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
While Molly specializes in mental health and addiction work, she additionally has a passion for working with neurodivergent individuals of all ages, including those with intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, ADHD, and autism. From 2021-2023 she served as the Program Director at a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, during which time she also grew their music therapy program and established an internship program with CCMT.
Molly practices from a primarily humanistic and holistic approach, aiming to see and treat the whole person, not just the illness or problem at hand. When working with a client, she always considers their physical, emotional, intellectual, social, creative, and spiritual potentials. She believes in empowering her clients by offering them decision-making opportunities and involving them in the treatment plan and therapy process whenever possible.
Molly is dedicated to enriching the lives of others through music, and loves witnessing the healing power of music empower individuals to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. She hopes that through Crescent City Music Therapy, she can expand Music Therapy services throughout the Greater New Orleans Area to individuals in need.
Charlie Ray, MMT, MTBC
Charlie grew up in Billings, MT, where he first started to sing and act in high school. He moved on to attend Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in music with a focus on contemporary writing and production. He relocated to New Orleans in 2016, attended Loyola University, and graduated with a master’s degree in music therapy.
Charlie completed his music therapy internship with the New Orleans Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, and has since worked in a variety of settings, including psychiatric care, residential treatment for addictions, group homes, nursing care and assisted living, community centers, and dialysis.
Charlie’s personal philosophy of music therapy incorporates music-centered, narrative, and humanistic music therapy approaches. He strives to facilitate engaging, expressive, and dynamic experiences for groups, and flexible, specialized care for individuals.
As a musician, Charlie specializes in rock, blues, country, folk, and jazz, but is always interested in supporting and working with clients’ relationship to any style or genre of music. In his practice, he utilizes a wide variety of instruments, including voice, a collection of percussion and hand drums, guitar, keyboard, kalimba, ocean drum, and other unique instruments.
Amber Cooper, MT-BC
Amber, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, officially joined our team in 2023 after completing her clinical internship with Crescent City Music Therapy. She is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy and a minor in Psychology from Loyola University New Orleans, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2021.
Amber honed her clinical skills through an intensive internship at an adult day program serving individuals with intellectual, developmental, physical, social, and cognitive disabilities. Additionally, she has experience in working with groups of children in educational settings, as well as 1:1.
As a MT-BC, it is Amber's belief that music possesses the inherent ability to captivate and activate various dimensions within an individual and serves as a pathway for personal growth, healing, and self-expression; that it is her job to act as a guide between music and the therapeutic process. To act as this guide, flexible and adaptable approaches are necessary in recognizing that the needs, preferences, and aspirations of a client can vary, and is something that Amber remains cognizant of when practicing.