Advancing music therapy as a recognized, integral part of mainstream healthcare.
We do this through professional education,
mentorship, research, and advocacy.
To offer healthcare providers accessible tools to use music within their own scope of practise - to improve client outcomes and #RaiseTheBarInHealthcare.
We believe every healthcare professional should have access to music as a therapeutic tool. Whether you're a music therapist seeking advanced training, a counselor integrating music into your practice, or a hospital administrator exploring wellness programs, the Music Therapy Academy is here to support your journey.
To advocate for the benefits of music within one's own scope of practice, through collaboration and community partnership. #CollaborationIsKey
We're committed to excellence in music therapy education and practice, fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions, promoting evidence-based approaches grounded in research, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all learners, and advancing continuous advocacy for music therapy within healthcare.
Meet Dr. Rachael Finnerty
Registered Psychotherapist | Credentialed Music Therapist | Educator | Researcher | Advocate
"When people hear 'Music Therapy Academy,' they often assume music performance is my background. It's not.
My journey started with a BA in Psychology and a genuine desire to help people understand the brain and human connection. Through exploration and discovery, I found music therapy—a profession that beautifully melds psychology, neuroscience, and music. I completed my Master's degree (2001) at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England and returned to Canada with a clear mission: to bring awareness to this profession and integrate it into mainstream healthcare.
What I've learned through this journey is simple but powerful: Despite diagnoses of dementia, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorder, post-stroke conditions, or mental illness, people's healthy responses to music are easily observable. Music is universal—it doesn't require musical training to be transformative.
Yet music therapy remains underutilized in mainstream healthcare. More research is being demanded. So I became not just a clinician and educator, but a researcher too. Today, I draw on this combined clinical, educational, and research experience to support all healthcare professionals in understanding how to harness music therapeutically within their scope of practice.
Because here's what I truly believe: All people are musical beings. Music connects us—regardless of 'musicianship,' age, culture, or education. And every healthcare professional deserves the tools to leverage that connection for the benefit of their clients.
Yours in #RaisingTheBarInHealthcare,
Dr. Rachael Finnerty
• Pioneer 30+ music therapy programs across Toronto, including programs at Sunnybrook Hospital, long-term care homes, aphasia day programs, mental health clinics, disability support services, and autism spectrum disorder programs
• Develop and bring two university courses in music therapy to McMaster University—courses that now reach over 5,000 students each academic year
• Conduct and contribute to music therapy research demonstrating the profound impact of music on health outcomes
• Advocate consistently for music therapy's integration in mainstream healthcare settings such as hospitals and long-term care centres
• Speak at conferences, fundraisers, and community events about the evidence-based benefits of music therapy
• Master of Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge (2001)
• Ph.D. in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behavior
• Registered Psychotherapist (Ontario)
• Credentialed Music Therapist (Certification Board for Music Therapists)
• 2015 Woman of Distinction Award Recipient (Health Care)
• Regular speaker at conferences and events
• Active researcher and published author
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