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A registered psychotherapist (RP) and certified music therapist (MTA), I received my PhD in Music Education at Western University in 2019 and my Master of Music Therapy from Laurier in 2007. I have taught and clinically supervised students at Laurier since 2007.
As the coordinator of Laurier’s Bachelor of Music Therapy program since 2020, it is a pleasure to work alongside our dynamic group of current students, while also assisting prospective students in determining whether our program is the right fit for them. In 2024 I was awarded Laurier’s Hoffman-Little Award for Teaching Excellence.
From 2017 to 2020 I was Laurier’s first Music Therapist-in-Residence. In this role, I practiced music therapy at Homewood Health Centre, a mental health and addictions treatment facility, and provided clinical supervision for fifteen music therapy placement students onsite. I also taught at Laurier and conducted research within Homewood’s eating disorders and mood disorders programs.
From 2019 to 2023 I served as the Ethics Chair on the board of directors for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists. From 2007 to 2012, I was the music therapist at Lutherwood Mental Health Services in Waterloo. Through the support of a Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund Grant in 2016, I also practiced music therapy at Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre in London.
Active as a pianist and soprano as well, I hold an ARCT in piano performance and sing professionally with the Canadian Chamber Choir.
A focus of my research is the interdisciplinary connections between the fields of music therapy, community music, and music education. My doctoral research examined musical performances’ affordances as they pertain to identity development and relationships. I am particularly interested in community music therapy, anti-oppressive models of practice, music-centered psychotherapy in mental health settings, and students’ experiences of personal growth through musical learning.
- Hoffman-Miller Award for Teaching Excellence, Wilfrid Laurier University (2024)
- Peer Recognition Award, Canadian Association of Music Therapists (2023)
- “Community Champion” Award, Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre, London, ON (2017)
- Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund Clinical Grant (2016)
- SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (2012-2016)
- SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship (2006-2007)
I provide research supervision for Master of Music Therapy students. If you are from a different program or faculty and are interested in inviting me to supervise your research, I invite you to be in touch.
- Mitchell, E. (2023). Music’s relational imperative: Wellbeing, music-making, and the interconnections between music therapy and music education. In K. Hendricks (Ed.), Oxford handbook of care in music education (pp. 361-372). Oxford University Press.
- Mitchell, E. (2021). Performing identities and performing relationships: Community music therapy and adolescent mental health. Music Therapy Perspectives, 39(2), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miab004
- Mitchell, E. (2021). Musical identities, personal identities: Performance for children with disabilities. In L. Willingham (Ed.), Community music at the boundaries (pp. 315-333). Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
- Shah, P., Mitchell, E., Remers, S., Van Blyderveen, S. & Ahonen, H. (2021). The impact of group music therapy for individuals with eating disorders. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy. (advance online publication)
- Mitchell, E. & Benedict, C. (2020). Lives in dialogue: Shared musical-relational engagements in music therapy and music education. European Journal of Philosophy in Arts Education, 5(1).
- Mitchell, E. (2019). Community music therapy and participatory performance: Case study of a coffee house. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v19i1.2701
- Mitchell, E. (2016). Therapeutic music education: An emerging model linking philosophies and experiences of music education with music therapy. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 22(1), 19-41.
Teaching, supervising, learning from and collaborating with students at Laurier has been and continues to be incredibly inspiring and fulfilling. It is a true highlight of my work!