Keynote CAMT Conference 2013

CAMT CONFERENCE 2013

Keynote Speaker: Dr Heidi Ahonen, MTA
Friday, May 10th

Dr. Heidi Ahonen, MTA; Professor of Music Therapy, Director of the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research; received a PhD from Joensuu University, Finland, and an MA from the University of Helsinki. Heidi’s research program currently covers a wide range of qualitative, Group Analytic Music Therapy and Music Psychotherapy research, Low Frequency Sound Wave- research, and early intervention research.

Heidi is also a psychotherapist and group analyst. She holds professional/clinical membership in the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the International Group Psychotherapy Association, the Group Analytic Society, and the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists (OSP).

Heidi has published widely on various therapeutic methodologies, and qualitative research, i.e. seven books, 20 book chapters, and 30+ scholarly articles. She has presented papers and workshops at 40+ conferences in Europe and North America, including several invited papers and/or key-note presentations. Heidi’s recent book is Group Analytic Music Therapy (2007), Barcelona Publishers.

As a qualitative research supervisor, specialized on phenomenology, grounded theory, fenomenography, narrative inquiry,
and arts based research; Heidi has supervised more than 30 postgraduate/masters-level theses and research papers, and
been external examiner of seven doctorate dissertations. She has also served as an external examiner of CIHR, Canada.

As a clinician, Heidi practices music psychotherapy and in the music therapy field she has developed the group analytic
music therapy method, the group analytic music therapy supervision model (2003). Using Group-Analytic Supervision
Approach When Supervising Music Therapists. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy. 12(2), 173‑183; the integrated art-and
music therapy method and the psychoauditive music listening/imagination method. Heidi has an extensive clinical
experience and specializes in working with adult clients who suffer traumas or burn-out.