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I am a registered psychotherapist and credentialed music therapist, having earned both my Master's and Doctoral degrees from the University of Toronto. With extensive clinical experience across the lifespan, I specialize in mental health, dementia, and palliative care. My research has significantly contributed to the understanding of understudied phenomena, leading to enhanced treatments in both music and medicine. This includes work on relationship completion for individuals at the end of life, vibroacoustic therapy, and singing protocols for people diagnosed with dementia, as well as telehealth music therapy and experiences in music therapy internships. The impact of my work has been recognized through publications in high-impact journals and media coverage by CBC News, CTV News, City TV News, Rogers TV, and The Globe and Mail, which have featured stories on the vibroacoustic pilot study for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease, the Glee Club studies, and my overall contributions to the field.
I have authored over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, multiple book chapters, and co-edited two books, including "Relationship Completion in Palliative Care Music Therapy." I have delivered more than 300 conference and invited academic presentations, and my work has been cited by over 1,300 scholars. As a researcher, I have secured over $6 million in research funds as a co-investigator and collaborator, as well as $400,000 as the Primary Investigator for clinical and education grants.
With an international reputation, I am actively involved in several Special Interest Groups aimed at advancing the understanding of music-based interventions for pain, dementia, and palliative care. I also lead a group of international scholars working to advance Telehealth Music Therapy. Currently, I serve as the Managing Editor of the Music and Medicine Journal and as the Research and Ethics Chair of the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT). I am a former President of both the World Federation of Music Therapy and the Canadian Association for Music Therapists, and I serve on the editorial review boards for nine international journals, including the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
ORCID ID - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5855-4802
Goolged Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GM390-wAAAAJ&hl=en
My research projects are connected to ongoing engagement with clients, students, caregivers, and allied health professionals to learn more about the therapeutic process, the therapeutic benefits, and the applications of music in clinical and training contexts. My research interests are broad but primarily fit into 5 categories with respect to music therapy and psychotherapy: palliative care, dementia care, health benefits of singing, education and training and, most recently, telehealth.
My current research projects include:
Projects
a. A Qualitative Description Study on the use and experience of family members’ videos taken in music therapy in Palliative Care
Co-Investigator: Jean Zigby
b. Effect of Vibrotactile and Music Stimulation on Dementia
Co-Investigators: Amy Clements-Cortés & Lee Bartel.
c. Group Singing to Support Social Wellbeing and Communication in Adults with Communication Disorders: A Knowledge Generation and Mobilization Partnership
Collaborator- (P.I Frank Russo)
Member of the Executive SingWell Committee.
d. Music Therapists' Experiences in Telehealth Music Therapy Provision
Co-Investigators: Amy Clements-Cortés & Marija Pranjic
Collaborators: Melissa Brotons, Allison Fuller, David Knott, Indra Selvarajah, Barbara Sgobbi, & Rebecca Vaudeuil
$1000 grant from the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Phase One
Awards
Grants
I am excited to interact with students who want to develop their research skills by assisting and collaborating with me on my research projects. Please send me an e-mail to connect.
I value supervising music therapy placements, and I meet the qualifications to provide music therapy as well as registered psychotherapy supervision. To date, I have provided over 3500 hours of clinical supervision to students at Wilfrid Laurier, the University of Toronto, University of Windsor, and in my private practice. I have developed a supervisor training course approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, and I am passionate about the topic, having conducted two studies on the music therapy internship experience.
At present I provide clinical supervision to music therapy students at Wilfrid Laurier University in both undergraduate and graduate levels.
You can find a number of my articles on the WLU Scholars Common Portal.
The following publications showcase some of my recent research and achievements over the past five years.
Every student brings their own unique contributions and creative gifts to their learning and subsequent entry into the profession of music therapy. I believe instructors have a privileged role as scholars and educators, and I love teaching and supervising at Wilfrid Laurier University. I endeavor to establish a learning environment that is safe, comfortable, positive and inclusive. Teaching is a collaboration, in which we learn from each other on the journey and leave the path more knowledgeable, having grown and transformed. Given the reputation of Laurier, I am honoured to share that I am contract academic faculty.