DEVELOPMENT BIO

Dr. Rachael Finnerty is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario, a credentialed music therapist with the Canadian Association of Music Therapists, and a member in good standing with the Music Therapist Association of Ontario. She currently provides supervision services to Hamilton Music Therapy and CreativePsych (hyperlink each of these names to their sites)

https://hamiltonmusictherapy.ca/ 

  https://www.creativepsych.ca/rachel-finnerty

Education

McMaster University, Hamilton ON, Canada PhD Psychology Neuroscience Behaviour

Sept 2019 –Sept. 2024  

Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England Master Music Therapy

July 2001 – Nov. 2006 

Open University, London, England  Master Social Science

Oct. 1999 – Oct. 2004 

Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England Post Graduate Music Therapy

Oct. 2000 – July 2001 

Hendon College, London England   Diploma Anatomy & Physiology

Sept.1999 –Feb. 2000 

Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada. BA Psychology

Sept. 1994 – April 1997

Professional Development

2025 February. Attended Music Therapy Ontario Conference, Hamilton, ON, Canada

2025 March. Attended Canadian Association of Music Therapists Conference, Nova Scotia, Canada

2024 March. Attended SXSW conference, Austin, Texas, USA

2023 August Dialectical Behaviour Therapy C-DBT Intensive Certification Course, PESI

2023 July Attended 17th World Congress of Music Therapy, Vancouver, BC, Canada

2022 Dec. Graduate Research Symposium, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, ON, Canada

2022 May Respectful Practice: Identifying Microaggressions and use of African American Vernacular English. Music Therapy Academy

2022 March Anti-Bias and Inclusion, 1hr workshop, Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute

2022 Feb. Facilitating Uncomfortable Conversations Related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Group Music Therapy Sessions (1hr workshop), Music Therapy Academy

2022 Jan. SAFEDI: Land Acknowledgements, McMaster University, ON, Canada

2021 Dec. Introduction to Jungian Music Psychotherapy, Music Therapy Academy, ON Canada

2021 Oct.  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Disclosure, PNB, McMaster University, ON, Canada

2021 Oct. Introduction to Anti-Ableism, Music Therapy Academy, ON, Canada

2021 Oct. Healthy Boundaries, Professionalism Workshop, McMaster University, ON, Canada

2021 Oct. Best Practices for Managing Data in Your Research, McMaster University                        

2021 Sept. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Open Discussion, McMaster University                             

2021 May Mac Mindfulness- Grad Student & Postdocs. Course ID: CDE4911, Koru Basic                       

2020 May The Vocal Compass, Music Therapy Academy                                             
2020 Nov. H.E.A.R.T workshop, Positive Space, McMaster University                                            
2020 Nov. Lived Experiences and Community Based Research: A Queer Perspective, McMaster University                                    

2020 Dec. Ten Rules for Building an Antiracist Lab, McMaster University                                            
2019 May Harm Reduction- A Framework For Change, Choice And Control, Crisis Trauma Resource Institute  

2019 May Being the Music: Enhancing Improvisation Skills, Crisis Trauma Resource Institute   

2018 April Challenging Behaviours In Youth, Crisis Trauma Resource Institute                              

2018 April SafeTALK, McMaster Continuing Education              
2017 April How does Neuroscience Inform Psychotherapy and Vice Versa, Toronto Psychoanalytic Society and Institute  

2016 Oct. Reporting Obligations and Ontario’s New Health Information Privacy Law, Solutions On Site      

2012 Nov. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Psychometrics          

2008 June Interactive Music Therapy, WLU                    

2005 Nov. Physioacoustic – Low Frequency Sound Wave Therapy System, WLU                     

1998 Feb. The Tomatis Method, Paris France                

1995 July Fitness Ontario Leadership Program

Awards

2023 March Golden Key International Honour Society - Honorary Member

2022 March GradFlix, MusicTherapy in NICU 1minute video, Finalist, McMaster University

2021 March GradFlix, Proactive Wellness 1minute video, Third Place Winner, McMaster University

2021 Hamilton Community Foundation ($10,000)

2020 McMaster Okanagan Special Project Fund ($2,500)

2020 Hamilton Community Foundation ($10,000)

Supervision Training

2025 Aug. Clinical Supervision Toolkit, Amy Bryant (2 day Training). PESI

2025 Aug. Clinical Supervision. CRPO

2025 June. Ethics and Risk Management in Behavioural Health: What every clinician needs to know about mental health and the Law. PESI

2025 May. Advanced Supervision Workshop (Full Day), CAMT preconference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

2022 Feb. Online Supervisor Training (6 modules), MACP Yorkville University,  

2022 Jan. Overcoming Fears and Biases in Clinical Supervision, Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes (1hr)

2022 Jan. Barbara Wand Seminar in Professional Ethics, Standards and Conduct (3hrs).  CPO

2017 Feb. MTAO, Advanced Supervision, Dr. Laurel Young (1 day)

2008 April. CAMT, Supervision Tips and Internship Workbook, Dr. Amy Clements Cortes (2days)

2004 May. CAMT, Basics in Supervision lead by Dr. Amy Clements Cortes (2 days)

Professional Associations (Member in good standing)

Canadian Association of Music Therapists (Since 2001 #0311)

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (Since 2015 #1866)

Music Therapy Association of Ontario (Since 2001)