Rachael Finnerty, PhD

Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Music Therapist,

Music Therapy Academy Founder

Rachael has been recognized as a music therapist since 2001. She has worked in hospitals, long term care facilities, and a private studio, initiating over 30 new music therapy programs throughout the GTA. Rachael served as the president of the Music Therapy Association of Ontario from 2010-2014 and was the recipient of the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, for Healthcare in 2015. An advocate for educating people about music therapy, she brought 2 music therapy courses to McMaster University in 2010, currently educating over 5000 students each academic year about music therapy. To provide further education to the community and healthcare professionals the Music Therapy Academy was launched in 2016. 

Rachael completed a PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University with Dr. Laurel Trainor. The focus of her research is proactive wellness (managing stress and anxiety) through music therapy.