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I love teaching music therapy at 51本色, and my classes always include plenty of experiential components.
As a clinician, I practice music psychotherapy and have developed the group analytic music therapy method. I specialize in working with adult clients who suffer psychological trauma, PTSD, vicarious traumatization or burn-out.
My research covers a wide range of qualitative, music psychotherapy research and evidence-based music medicine research, e.g., low frequency soundwave-research.
I have authored several books, (e.g., Group Analytic Music Therapy 2007, Barcelona Publishers) and have presented at many universities and conferences in Europe and North America.
I received a PhD from Joensuu University (1998), Finland, and an MA from the University of Helsinki (1990) and am a recent graduate from the Harvard University Refugee Trauma - Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Program (2014).
I am registered psychotherapist (RP), accredited music therapist (MTA), and a clinical member of Ontario Society of psychotherapists (OSP), Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association (CGPA), and American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)
As low frequency sound expert, my research includes various evidence based music medicine research projects investigating Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation at 40Hz with AD patients, Parkinson’s and pain patients. My current project investigates the effects of music on drug metabolism and excretion and impact of Low Frequency Sound with pain. As clinician, I work with traumatized individuals such as the refugee population using clinical improvisation and Guided Imagery and Music. I have developed the Group Analytic Music Therapy approach and am conducting vicarious trauma/burn out workshops for health care professionals all over the world. As a qualitative researcher, I utilize phenomenology with narrative and arts based approaches.
- $250 000. March 2023. New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration. The title of this pioneering project is “Effects of music on drug metabolism and excretion.” Research Team: Dr. Tony Kiang (PI), Pharmacy and Pharmacdutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Dr. Ayman El-Kadi, U of Alberta, Dr. Heidi Ahonen
- Best Healthcare Article 2022 Award. Mosabbir, Abdullah; Almeida, Quincy J.; Ahonen, Heidi. 2020. "The Effects of Long-Term 40-Hz Physioacoustic Vibrations on Motor Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial." Healthcare 8, no. 2: 113.
- Graduate of the Harvard University Program in Refugee Trauma, Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Program.
- Between 1990-2001, I worked at North Karelia Polytechnic, Finland and established their music therapy training programme prior to moving to Canada in 2001. I also taught music therapy in Sibelius Academy, Continuing Education Department.
- I have supervised over 70+ postgraduate/masters-level theses and research papers in different universities in Europe and North America.
- I have been the external examiner/public opponent of 14 doctorate dissertations, and served as an external examiner of several journals and universities, e.g. Irish World Academy, Acadia, and University of Herthfordshire.
I supervise students’ major research papers, master thesis and PhD dissertations. I also provide clinical supervision.
Books
- Group Analytic Music Therapy. Gilsum. NH. Barcelona Publishers. (2007).
- Musiikki—Sanaton kieli. Musiikkiterapian perusteet. [Music—language without words. The basics of music therapy]. Finnlectura Oy. HKI., 3. prints. (2000/1992).
- Samalle aaltopituudelle—kohtaaminen musiikin avulla. [To the same tune— meeting in the musical world]. Kirjayhtymä oy. Hki. (1999).
- ”Musiikillinen dialogi" ja muita musiikkiterapeuttien työskentelytapoja ja lasten musiikkiterapian muotoja. [Musical dialog and other working methods of music therapists and forms of music therapy for children]. Doctorate thesis. University of Joensuu. Faculty of Education. N:o 45. Joensuu University Printing House. (1998).
- Löytöretki itseen. [Exploring oneself. Music, picture and movement as a tool of self expression and insight]. Musiikki, kuva ja liike itseilmaisun välineenä ja itsetuntemuksen lisääjänä. Kirjayhtymä Oy. HKI. 2. prints. (1994).
- Taide Psykososiaalisen työn välineenä. [Arts as a tool of psychosocial work]. (Heidi Ahonen-Eerikainen Ed.). PohjoisKarjalan Ammattikorkeakoulun julkaisu sarja A/2, opetushallitus. Raamattupaino, Pieksämäki 2. prints. (1994).
Chapters in Books
- Bruscia, Ken. “Group Analytic Music Therapy Supervision.” Music Therapy Experiential Education. (2014)
- O’Connor, T, Lund, KK and Berensden, P. “Music as a Cure of Soul – Helping Helpers with Vicarious Trauma or Burn out to Empty their Containers.” Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Cure of the Soul. (2014)
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2021). Processing refugee journey and promoting self-healing with music and art. In L. Willingham (Ed.), Community music: Walking the boundaries, bridging the gaps. Waterloo: WLU Press
- Ahonen, Heidi (2021). Putting the lights to the room - Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) with trauma survivors. In: D. Grocke (Ed.). Barcelona Publishers.
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2017) Profile 1. Heidi Ahonen. Canada & Finland. In: J.F. Mahoney (Ed.), The Lives of Music Therapists: Profiles in Creativity. VOL: 2. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers, 13-32
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2016). Adult Trauma Work in Music Therapy. In: The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy. Ed. Jane Edwards. Oxford University Press. 268-288
Papers in Refereed Journals
- Clements-Cortés, A., Ahonen, H., Evan, M., Freedman, M. & Bartel, L. (2016). Short term effects of rhythmic sensory stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease: An exploratory pilot study. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 52(2), 651-660. DOI 10.3233/JAD-160081
- Clements-Cortés, A, Ahonen, H., Freedman, M. & Bartel, L. (2016) Rhythmic sensory stimulation and Alzheimer’s disease, Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 25:sup1, 17, DOI: 10.1080/08098131.2016.1179893
- Clements Cortes, A; Ahonen, H; Freedman, M., Bartell, L. "Short-Term Effects of Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation on Alzheimer Patients: An Exploratory Pilot Study." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (submitted Jan. 2016).
- Alter, D.A., Sivarajah, S., Freedman, C., Ahonen, H., Young, L., Marzolini, S. "The Relationship Between Music, Exercise, Self-Reported Health, and Health Behaviours Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients." Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. (2015).
- Naghdi, L., Bartel, L., Macro, P. Ahonen, H. "The Effect of Low Frequency Sound Stimulation on Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Clinical Study." Pain Research & Management. January/February 2015 20(1). (2015).
- Ahonen, H & Mongillo Desideri, A. Heroines. Journey-Emerging Story by Refugee “Women during Group Analytic Music Therapy.” Voices. (2014).
- *Ahonen, H., Deek, P, Kroeker, J. Low Frequency Sound Treatment Promoting Well Being– Qualitative Study. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Vol. 17 . (2013).
- King, Lauren K., Almeida, Quincy J., Ahonen, H. Short-term effects of vibration therapy on motor impairments in Parkinson's disease. NeuroRehabilitation, Vol. 25, No. 4. (2009), pp. 297-306.
- Ahonen, H. & Houde, M. Something in the Air: Journeys of Self-Actualization in Musical Improvisation. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. (2009).
- Mosabbir, Abdullah; Almeida, Quincy J.; Ahonen, Heidi. (2020). "The Effects of Long-Term 40-Hz Physioacoustic Vibrations on Motor Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial." Healthcare 8, no. 2: 113.
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2018a). Music Medicine’s Influence on music psychotherapy practice with traumatized individuals. Music & Medicine, 10(1), 26-38.
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2018b). ‘Self as instrument’ – Safe and effective use of self in music psychotherapy: Canadian music therapists’ perceptions. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy, First View (Advance online publication), 1-20. Retrieved from
- Teutsch, Laura., Petrie, Sara., & Ahonen, Heidi. (2021) Utilizing musical microanalysis to enhance understanding the impact of improvisational music psychotherapy on self-efficacy for a client with depression and anxiety. Approaches. In Print.
- Skinner Kathleen, Kurkijan Ashley, Ahonen Heidi (2020).Bruscia’s clinical techniques for improvisational music therapy in autism research: A scoping review. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music therapy. May 20, 2020, 1-15
- Kurkijan Ashley, Skinner Kathleen, Ahonen Heidi (2020). Using music-adapted technology to explore Bruscia’s clinical techniques introduced in autism research: Pilot study Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music therapy. May 20, 2020, 1-27
- Ahonen, Heidi. (2015) Pakolaiskokemustarinan tyostamista ryhmaanalyyttisessa musiikkiterapiassa [Working through the refugee narrative in group analytic music therapy]. Psykoterapia [Psychotherapy] 4/2015, 277-288
To see my complete list of publications, please visit