Contact Information

Biography

Elaine Abbott, Director of Music Therapy at Duquesne University, has over 20 years of clinical music therapy experience in skilled nursing facilities, inpatient behavioral health facilities, and private music psychotherapy practice. She maintains a small clinical music psychotherapy practice. Dr. Abbott's research interests include client, therapist, and paraprofessional experiences in music therapy processes as well as music therapy pedagogy. She sits on the editorial board for the Journal of the Association of Music and Imagery.

Education

  • Ph.D., Temple University
  • M.M.T., Temple University
  • B.M., Michigan State University

Areas of Expertise

  • Interpretivist thematic analysis
  • Music therapy pedagogy
  • Guided imagery and music
  • Music therapy and mental health
  • Music therapy and older adults

School

Departments, Centers, and Offices

Associated Programs

  • Abbott, E. A. (2019). The individual form of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. In D. Grocke (Ed.), Guided Imagery and Music the Bonny Method and Beyond (2nd Edition; pp. 27-40). Dallas, Texas. Barcelona.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2018). Elaine Abbott. In J. Mahoney (Ed.), The Lives of Music Therapists: Profiles in Creativity - Volume 3 (pp. 19-45). Dallas, Texas. Barcelona.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2016). Reviewing the literature. In B. Wheeler & K. Murphy (Ed.), Music Therapy Research (3rd Edition; pp. 136-150). Dallas, Texas. Barcelona.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2013). Elderly residents in nursing facilities. In L. Eyre (Ed.), Guidelines for Music Therapy Practice: Mental Health of Adolescents and Adults (pp. 685-717). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2013). Personal therapy requirements for training in Bonny method of guided imagery and music: Traditional and modified sessions. In K. Bruscia (Ed.), Self-Experiences in Music Therapy Education (pp. 373-386). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.
  • Abbott, E. A. & Avins, K. (2006). Music, health and well-being. In E. R. Mackenzie & B. Rakel (Ed.s), Holistic Approaches to Healthy Aging: Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Older Adults (pp. 97-110). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2019). Music therapists' goal and objective writing practices. Music Therapy Perspectives. Early access publication on December 4 at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miz018
  • Abbott, E. A. (2017). Subjective observation in music therapy: A study of student practicum logs. Music Therapy Perspectives. Early access publication on March 8 at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/mix001
  • Abbott, E. A. (2017). Characterizing objective observations in music therapy: A study of student practicum logs. Music Therapy Perspectives, 35(1), 71-78. Early access publication on October 15, 2015 at https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miv037.
  • Abbott, E. A. & Sanders, L. (2013). Perspectives of paraeducators on collaboration in music therapy sessions. The Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 19(1), 47-65.
  • Abbott, E. A. & Sanders, L. (2012). Paraeducators' perceptions of music therapy sessions. Music Therapy Perspectives, 30(2), 145-150.
  • Abbott, E. (2010). The Bonny Method: Training Innovations at Anna Maria College. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 10(3). Retrieved November 15, 2010, from https://normt.uib.no/index.php/voices/article/view/501/424
  • Abbott, E. A. (2007-08). Facilitating guided imagery and music: What therapists intend, experience, do. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 11, 1-20.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2006). The Administration of Music Therapy Training Clinics: A Descriptive Study. Journal of Music Therapy, 43(1), 63-81.
  • Abbott, E. A. (2005). Client Experiences with the Music in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. In A. Meadows (Ed.), Qualitative Inquires in Music Therapy, Volume 2 (pp. 36-61). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers.
  • Abbott, E. A., Bruscia, K. E., Cadesky, N., Condron, D., Hunt, A., Miller, D. M., & Thomae, L. (2005). A collaborative heuristic analysis of Imagery-M: A classical music program used in guided imagery and music. In A. Meadows (Ed.), Qualitative Inquires in Music Therapy, Volume 2 (pp. 1-35). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers.
  • Conceptualizing Goals and Objectives: Thinking About How to Write Them
    Refereed 50-minute didactic session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Online, June 7, 2020.
  • 2018 American Music Therapy Association Leadership Academy
    Invited 3-hour continuing education course with Sara Cannon, MA, MT-BC; Jennifer Geiger, MA, MT-BC; and Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC. American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Dallas, Texas, November 17, 2018.
  • Assessing Students Readiness to Enter the Professional World
    Refereed 100-minute panel presentation with Brian Abrams, PhD, MT-BC; Eileen Garwood, PhD, MT-BC; Andrea McGraw-Hunt, PhD, MT-BC; Nancy Jackson, PhD, MT-BC; and Kathleen Murphy, PhD, MT-BC. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 13, 2018.
  • Introduction: The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music
    Refereed 75-minute didactic session with Louise Dimiceli-Mitran, MA, LCPC, MT-BC, FAMI.
    1. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Saint Louis, MO, November 18, 2017.
    2. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Sandusky, OH, November 12, 2016.
  • Teaching Objectivity: Concepts for Learning
    1. Refereed 100-minute didactic session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 19, 2016.
    2. Refereed 120-minute didactic session. Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 16, 2016.
  • Listening for Therapeutic Potentials in Pre-recorded Music
    Refereed 100-minute didactic session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Ocean City, Maryland, March 20, 2015.
  • Musicians' Health & Wellness: Important Topics for Students, Faculty and Clinicians
    1. Refereed 100-minute didactic session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Buffalo, New York, April 11, 2014
    2. Refereed 120-minute didactic session. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Louisville, Kentucky, November 8, 2014.
  • Music and Imagery: A Clinical Method for Self-Reflection
    1. Refereed 60-minute didactic session. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Jacksonville, Florida, November 24, 2013.
    2. Referred 50-minute didactic session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Buffalo, New York, April 12, 2014
  • Paraeducators' Perceptions of Music Therapy Sessions
    1. Refereed poster presentation with Linda Sanders, MRE, MT-BC. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, St. Charles, Illinois, October 12, 2012.
    2. Refereed 50-minute didactic session with Linda Sanders, MRE, MT-BC. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Scranton, Pennsylvania, April 5, 2013
  • What Paraprofessionals Want Music Therapists To Know
    1. Refereed 50-minute didactic session with Linda Sanders, MRE, MT-BC. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Timonium, Maryland, March 22, 2012.
    2.Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 13, 2012.
  • Learn More to Be More: A Panel Presentation on Supervision
    Refereed 50-minute panel discussion with Deborah Benkovitz, LSW, MSW, MT-BC; Gretchen Chardos Benner, MT-BC, LSW; Brigette K. Sutton, MA, MT-BC; Aaron K. Teague, MA, MT-BC, Carol L. Shultis, M.Ed, MT-BC, LPC
    Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Timonium, Maryland, March 24, 2012.
  • A Music Therapy Research Process: The Collaboration of a Clinician and Academician.
    Refereed 50-minute didactic and experiential session with Linda Sanders, MRE, MT-BC. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Atlanta, Georgia, November 20, 2011.
  • Exploring the Possibilities: Professional Collaboration in the Arts Therapies.
    Refereed 90-minute didactic and experiential session with Nancy Jackson, PhD, MT-BC and Annie Heiderscheit, PhD, MT-BC. Expressive Arts Therapies Summit, New York City, New York, November 12, 2011.
  • Living as a Music Therapist: What's Up With That?
    1. Refereed 90-minute didactic and experiential session. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York, March 2011.
    2. Refereed 50-minute didactic and experiential session. National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Cleveland, Ohio, November 19, 2010
  • Focusing and Containing Therapeutic Work in Guided Imagery and Music.
    Refereed 90-minute didactic and interactive lecture.
    1. New England Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Westbrook, Connecticut, March 19, 2010.
    2. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 16, 2010.
  • Music & Imagery Part I: Supportive and Re-educative Music & Imagery.
    Refereed 90-minute panel presentation of case studies with Francis Goldberg, Suzannah Scott-Moncrieff, Jody Conradi Stark, Laura Pawuk, and Deborah Phelps.
    The Twentieth International Conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Chicago, Illinois, June 25, 2009.
  • Using Intention to Help Guide Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music Sessions.
    Refereed 90-minute didactic lecture.
    Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 7, 2009.
  • Client Reactions to Music in Imagery-Based Psychotherapy.
    Refereed poster presentation. Temple University Qualitative Research Symposium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March, 2003.