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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
- 2020 Clinical Impact Award, World Federation of Music Therapy.
- 2018 Certificate of Appreciation, for Dedication and Contribution as a Preceptor; Baycrest Centre for Education and Knowledge
- 2017 Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing; Arts is Psychotherapy Journal, Elsevier Publications
- 2016 Certificate of Appreciation; Canadian Association for Music Therapy
- 2015 Values in Action Award; Baycrest Centre
- 2014 Outstanding Health Discipline Teaching Award; Baycrest Centre
- 2013 Educator of Character; Character Community Foundation of York Region
- 2013 Outstanding Health Discipline Teaching Award; Baycrest Centre
- 2011 Recognizing Arts Vaughan Excellence (RAVE) award; Outstanding Contribution by an Arts Educator/Mentor
Grants
- Awarded $5 million + in research funds as Co-investigator & Collaborator, plus over $375, 000 in research (PI), clinical and education 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.
Books
- Clements-Cortés, A. & Yip. J. (Eds.) (2021). Relationship completion in palliative care music therapy. Barcelona.
- Clements-Cortés, A. & Klinck, S. (2016). Voices of the dying and bereaved: Music therapy narratives. Barcelona.
Refereed Articles
- Clements-Cortés, A. (2024). Music therapy assessment for older adults: Descriptive mixed-methods study. Behavioral Sciences, 14(5), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050354
- Hanser, S., Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M., & Tomaino, C. M. (2024). Editorial: Music therapy in geriatrics, Volume II, Frontiers in Medicine, 11:1383160. 10.3389/fmed.2024.1383160
- Clements-Cortés, A. & Klink, S. (2024). Fostering pre-professionals and learning experiences in end-of-life care contexts: Music therapy internship supervision. Healthcare, 12, 459. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040459
- McConnell, T., Gillespie, K, Potvin, N., Roulston, A., Kirkwood, J., Thomas, D., McCullagh, A., Roche, L., O’Sullivan, M., Binnie, K., Clements-Cortés, A., DiMaio, L., Thompson, Z., Tsiris, G., Radulovi, R., & Graham-Wisener, L., (2024). Developing a best-practice agenda for music therapy research to support informal carers of terminally ill patients pre- and post-death bereavement: A world café approach. BMC Palliative Care, 23(33), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01369-8
- Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Leonard, H., Chan, V., Trondalen, G., Stingl, T.D. Stegemann, T., & Zanini, C. (2024). Global perspectives on addressing systemic issues in music therapy curricula and healthcare. Voices, 24(1), https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v24i1.3861
- Clements-Cortés, A., Pascoe, H., Pranjic, M., & Nan, F. (2024). An explanatory sequential pilot inquiry on music therapy and performance anxiety in university music education majors. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 87, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2023.102114
- Clements-Cortés, A. (2023). A personal reflection on challenges facing music therapy education, training and clinical practice. Music and Medicine, 15(4), 187-192.
- Kelly, L, Clements-Cortés, A., Ahessy, B., Richardson, I., & Moss, H. (2023). Follow the musical road: Selecting appropriate music experiences for people with dementia living in the community. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10):5818. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105818
- Clements-Cortés, A., (2023). A comprehensive music based approach for chronic pain in a 96-year- old female. Music and Medicine, 15(2), 110-115.
- Fitzpatrick, K., Moss, H., Bradt, J., Clements-Cortés, A., Corcoran, J., Gallagher, L.M., Guétin, S., Harmon, D., Hussey, C., Loewy, J., & O’Shea, P. (2023). An agenda for excellence: The role of music therapy for people living with chronic pain. Music and Medicine, 15(2), 68-76.
- Clements-Cortés, A., Pranjić, M.; Knott, D., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Fuller, A., Kelly, L., Selvarajah, I., Vaudreuil, R. (2023). International music therapists’ perceptions and experiences in telehealth music therapy provision. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 5580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085580
- Clements-Cortés, A., Pascoe, H., Bridi, N. (2023). Better together: Interprofessional collaborations between music educators and music therapists. Music and Medicine, 15(1), 32-34.
- Clements-Cortés, A., Bartel, L. (2022). Long-term multi-sensory gamma stimulation of dementia patients: A case series report. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (23), 15553. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315553.
- Helitzer, E., Clements-Cortés, A., & Moss, H. (2022). Group singing on social prescription: A scoping review. Music and Medicine, 14(4), 226-237.
- Clements-Cortés, A., & Yip, J. (2022). The impact of systemic language in music therapy and western healthcare systems: A Canadian perspective. Arts in Psychotherapy, 81, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2022.101965.
- Srolovitz, M., Borgwardt, J., Burkart, M., Clements-Cortés, A., Czamanski-Cohen, J., Ortiz Guzman, M., Hicks, M. G., Kaimal, G., Lederman, L., Potash, J. S., Yazdian Rubin, S.,
- Stafford, D., Wibben, A., Wood, M., Youngwerth, J., Jones, C. A. & Kwok, I. B. (2021). Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about music therapy and art therapy. Journal of Palliative Medicine. doi:10.1089/jpm.2021.0481
- Clements-Cortés, A., Hanser, S. B. & Brotons, M. (2021). Foundations of dementia care for music therapy and music based interventions: Part 1. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 162-168.
- Clements-Cortés, A., Brotons, M., Silva, T., & Moreira, S. (2021). Telehealth music therapy for persons with dementia and/or caregivers. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 206-210.
- Dassa, A., Ray, K., & Clements-Cortés, A. (2021). Reflections on telehealth music therapy for persons with dementia in response to COVID-19. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 201-205.
- O’Donoghue, J. Egan, G., Moss, H. & Clements-Cortés, A. (2021). Participation in group music therapy: A preliminary study of the experiences and perceptions of adolescents who stammer. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 75, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2021.101809
- Clements-Cortés, A., & Yip, J. (2021). Medical assistance in dying in Canada: Implications and considerations for music therapists around the globe, Music Therapy Perspectives, 39(1), 11-16 https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miaa009
- Clements-Cortés, A. (2020). The online conference for music therapy (OCMT): Demonstrating best practices for virtual conferences, education and training. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy. http://approaches.gr/clements-cortes-r20200812
- O’Donoghue, J., Moss, H. & Clements-Cortés, A. & Freeley, C. (2020). Therapist and individual experiences and perceptions of music therapy for adolescents who stutter: A qualitative exploration. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 4, 353-370. doi: 10.1080/08098131.2020.1745872
- Hanser, S., Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M., & Tomaino, C. M. (2020). Music therapy in geriatrics. Frontiers in Medicine, 7(87) doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00087
- Clements-Cortés, A. & Yip, J. (2019). Social prescribing for an aging population, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 43(4), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/01924788.2019.1692467
- Clements-Cortés, A. (2019). Alive inside, dead outside: Cultural implications of the Documentary Alive Inside. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 10(1 & 2), 39-51. doi:10.1386/iscc.10.1-2.39_1.
- Clements-Cortés, A. (2019). A sequential mixed-methods study of pre-professionals’ understanding of the undergraduate music therapy internship, Journal of Music Therapy, 56(3), 209-239.
- Honouring the Passage, Voices from Hospice Music Therapy & Beyond, Various Artists, CD Baby, 2014. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carolynkoebel
- Buddy’s Glee Club: Growing Older, Singing Better, CD produced from Glee one research study participants in Adult Day Centre, Baycrest, Sept 2013.
- Soothing Relaxation Journeys, Original scripts and music, Sept. 2011.
- By The Shining Waters CD, Original songs and piano music composed in collaboration with a palliative care music therapy client, June 2010.
- Episodes of Relationship Completion CD, May, 2009.
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.
DEGREES
CERTIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 2006 - 2009
- Master of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 2003 - 2005
- Bachelor of Music Therapy, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada. 1989 - 1995
CERTIFICATIONS
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada. 2020 - present
- Registered Psychotherapist, (RP), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. 2015 - present
- Music Therapist, Board Certified, (MT-BC), Certification Board for Music Therapists. 2012 - present
- Music Therapist Accredited, Canadian Association of Music Therapists. 2000 - present
- Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow, Academy for Neurologic Music Therapy
- Fellow in the Association for Music and Imagery, Association for Music and Imagery
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Certificate, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test Inc., Canada. 2021 - present
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills, Certificate Behaviour Tech Research, United States. 2021 - present