Meet the Team

Nicole Bakker, MS, MT-BC

Owner, Music Therapist, Music Educator

Hi, I’m Nicole!

I’m a board-certified music therapist and certified K–12 music educator based in Denver, Colorado. My journey into music therapy began long before I earned my master’s degree in 2017, it started with a lifelong love of music and a deep desire to care for others.

Growing up, I studied voice, dabbled in piano, and later picked up the guitar. But it was during a volunteer trip to a children’s hospital at age 16 that I truly understood the power of music. Standing in a room full of children and their families, I began to sing, and everything changed. The room fell silent, and I could feel music creating a moment of connection, calm, and healing. That was when I knew: music could make a difference, and I wanted to be part of that.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide variety of clients and in diverse settings, including three years teaching music in Denver Public Schools. Today, I bring a person-centered approach to both therapy and education, building strong, trusting relationships with each client, student, and family I serve.

I believe music is a powerful tool for growth, and that everyone deserves a safe, supportive space to explore, learn, and thrive. Thanks for stopping by, I can’t wait to meet you and begin your musical journey together!

Nicole’s Experience

  • Masters in Music Therapy from SUNY New Paltz, NY. 2017

  • Board Certified Music Therapist

  • Certified Music Educator in Colorado, K-12

  • Internship at The Center for Discovery in Harris, NY working with children with autism and developmental disabilities using a Nordoff- Robbins (improvisational) music therapy approach.

  • Part time music therapist at The Center for Discovery in the adult residential program

  • Music therapist in a skilled nursing home for Veterans

  • Music therapist in a day habilitation center for adults

  • Music therapist (mostly in home) working with children with developmental disabilities and life limiting illnesses. CES & CLLI waivers

  • Music educator and music therapist in Denver Public Schools

Catie Buescher, MT-BC

NICU Music Therapist

Hi, I’m Catie!

I am so excited to be providing music services with Nurtured Notes! I studied music therapy at the University of Dayton and am a board certified music therapist and more recently a NICU music therapist. I primarily have worked with children through music therapy and nannying in all different settings! I strive to provide music experiences that encourage every kid to explore music in an inclusive and creative environment. Outside of music I enjoy all things sports especially Notre Dame football as well as crafting, specifically.

Mowgli Hassan, MT-BC, NMT

Neurologic Music Therapist

Mowgli is a music therapist & neurologic music therapist who has practiced in the Northern Virginia & Washington D.C. area with various client communities. Over the past decade, their work has spanned running a brain choir for folks who have had strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or parkinson’s, social groups for neurodivergent folks like those with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, & down syndrome, providing therapeutic music production for a youth shelter/group home, creating programming & co-treating in an IEP-based school, supervising and serving as clinical manager for a team of eight music therapists, and seeing hundreds of individual clients from the NICU to end of life.

 

Mowgli’s therapeutic presence is full of warmth and playfulness, creating disarming spaces where folks can be more vulnerable & authentic with themselves and others. Mowgli is an avid learner and advocate against oppression. They share intersections as a BIPOC, queer, disabled human and continually refine their own anti-oppressive practices. They find fulfillment in their work as a music therapist in witnessing others use music as a medium for self-expression and growth.