There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in
-Leonard Cohen
Dr. Kate Bautch
Owner/Psychologist/Music Therapist/Speaker
Phone:
916.905.7012
Email:
Address:
425 University Avenue
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95825
License Number
CA PSY 34431
A Bit About Me
I received my M.A. in Music Therapy and my Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of the Pacific. During my time in graduate school, I was inducted into both Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies and was an invited speaker for Pi Kappa Lambda’s scholarly lecture series. My dissertation research received second place in the University of the Pacific Research Competition in 2021. I have presented at conferences nationally and internationally on the destructive nature of perfectionism, as well as on my research into the effectiveness of using therapeutic music playlists for the management of symptoms of anxiety.
Prior to transitioning to private practice, I served as a music therapist independently and through McConnell Music Therapy Services, primarily in hospital and inpatient settings. In my capacity as a music therapist, I worked at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento (pediatrics, PICU, and oncology), as well as Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sutter Rehabilitation Institute, and Eating Recovery Center. I additionally worked at Lodi Memorial Hospital, providing patient support as well as staff support to doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I completed my supervised hours at Empowered Living Therapy under Dr. Rick Grant-Coons, as well as with Dr. Marcella Kreysa. Upon receiving my license, I went into private practice and opened Brave Passages Affirming Therapy serving the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond.
In addition to my work as a psychologist, I am an adjunct professor of psychology at San Joaquin Delta College where I teach Human Sexuality, Abnormal Psychology, Intro to Psychology, and Psych Statistics. At Delta College I am also the co-president of Delta College Pride Coalition, a member of the president’s equity task force, and a safe zone educator, which indicates that my classroom is a safe space for students of the LGBTQIA+ community.
I am a board member of Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, serving as secretary, and am a member of American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, and American Music Therapy Association. During my graduate studies I served as the student liaison to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as to the Research Committee.
Outside of the office I find joy and balance in playing piano, guitar, and singing, reading anything I can get my hands on, photography, cooking ridiculous quantities of whatever is seasonal, playing with my rambunctious goldendoodle, time with my loved ones, time in nature hiking in national parks, and swimming.
Goals for Therapy
My goal when meeting a new client is to get to know their unique situation and needs, and to create a space where they feel comfortable opening up about the changes they wish to manifest. Often times, shame keeps people from reaching out for support until their dissatisfaction or emotional pain are at an oppressive level. I seek to do whatever possible to make the vulnerable process of meeting a new therapist feel less intimidating and create a sense of safety. Working together, we will set appropriate goals that support the change you seek, and I will bring my expertise, compassion, and when appropriate, humor, in assisting you in achieving them. I use a strengths-based approach, relying on your unique abilities and characteristics to facilitate our work.
I have a great deal of respect for the trust my clients place in me. When I began my work as a music therapist, I had a line drawing of a phoenix tattooed on my forearm where I would see it frequently. That was to remind myself of how much courage it takes to rise from the ashes. I had done the lion’s share of my own therapeutic journey and know that it can be easy to forget how hard that can be. I wanted to make sure that I had a reminder that I would see every single day of how much courage therapy takes, so that I would never take for granted the work that my clients put into their journey. In my work as a therapist, I seek to honor the client’s effort and to help them move along their path with empathy, respect, and compassion.