Therapy

Brianna (Bri) Nilsen, LCSW, MT-BC,RYT (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board-Certified Music Therapist, and yoga instructor with more than 10 years of experience supporting people through life transitions, illness, identity shifts, and the many seasons of being human.

Bri offers a warm, collaborative, and creative approach to therapy. She believes you are the expert in your own experience and sees her role as walking alongside you—helping you make sense of what you're experiencing, build practical tools, reconnect with yourself, and move toward a life that feels more like your own.
Her work is especially informed by perinatal mental health and the transition into parenthood, as well as anxiety, ADHD, body image, relationships, and the emotional impact of major life transitions. She also brings extensive experience supporting individuals and families navigating serious illness and complex medical experiences.

Bri integrates evidence-informed approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness-based practices, and expressive arts. As a Board-Certified Music Therapist, she also offers music therapy for individuals who are interested in using music and the creative process as a pathway for emotional exploration, expression, connection, and growth. Music therapy is not music instruction—it is a collaborative clinical process that can incorporate songwriting, improvisation, listening, movement, and other forms of musical expression according to each person's goals and interests.

Bri's approach is grounded in the belief that healing does not always happen through words alone. Sometimes music, creativity, movement, body awareness, humor, or simply having a space where you can be fully yourself can open doors that traditional conversation cannot.

Her own experiences with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum deepened her commitment to perinatal mental health and to addressing the gaps and barriers many people encounter within medical and mental health systems. She has completed Postpartum Support International's perinatal mental health training and Vered Benhorin's Baby in Tune training, and she facilitates Baby in Tune groups for caregivers and babies.
Whether you are navigating a major transition, trying to understand yourself in a new season of life, struggling to feel like yourself again, or simply wanting a space to explore what's next, Bri is honored to meet you where you are.

Therapy Services:

• Free Consultation

  • A brief opportunity to connect, learn more about Bri's approach and services, and determine whether the fit feels right before scheduling an intake.

• Individual Therapy

  • Individual therapy for adults navigating mental health concerns, life transitions, relationships, identity, anxiety, ADHD, body image, perinatal mental health, or other challenges impacting their sense of well-being.

  • Bri takes a collaborative and individualized approach, drawing from CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness-based practices, and expressive arts. Sessions may incorporate creative approaches, movement, or body-based awareness when appropriate and aligned with the client's goals.

• Walk & Talk Therapy

  • Walk-and-talk sessions may be available as an option within individual therapy when clinically appropriate. This option will be discussed during the consultation or intake process to determine whether it is a good fit for the client's needs, goals, and circumstances. Walk-and-talk sessions will begin and end at Cary House.

• Individual Music Therapy

  • Individual music therapy for adults who are interested in using music and creative expression as part of their therapeutic process.

  • Music therapy is a clinical service—not music instruction—and does not require musical experience or ability. Sessions may incorporate songwriting, lyric exploration, improvisation, music listening, movement, or other creative approaches depending on the client's goals.
    Music therapy can be particularly helpful for people who find that music gives them access to emotions, memories, experiences, or aspects of themselves that can be difficult to reach through conversation alone.

• Extended Individual Sessions

  • A longer individual therapy or music therapy session for clients who would benefit from additional time for deeper exploration, complex topics, creative work, or other clinical needs.

• Baby in Tune™ with Bri (6-week session)

  • A 45-minute caregiver-and-baby group for babies approximately 0–9 months old.
    Baby in Tune™ combines music, movement, playful interaction, and supportive conversation to help caregivers build connection with their babies while also caring for themselves during the transition into parenthood.

  • Through song and dialogue, we explore ways to tune inward, recognize and communicate our needs, strengthen connection, and build practical skills and resources for the early months of parenthood.
    No musical experience is necessary. This is more than a traditional baby music class—it is a supportive space for caregivers and babies to connect, play, and grow together.

Questions? Reach out to briannanilsen@gmail.com