Dr Katie Fitzpatrick, from County Clare, has today completed a PhD in music therapy, inspired by her great-grandmother who taught piano at a school in Dublin.
“I’ve always loved singing, dancing and playing the piano,” she said.
“My great-grandmother was a piano teacher in Dublin. She was the original music therapist, working with children who had difficulty attending school and giving them the opportunity to succeed through music. .”
Dr. Fitzpatrick has worked as a self-employed community musician working with adults in disability services, older adults with Parkinson’s disease, adults experiencing homelessness, and children.
Her research shows that music and music therapy can help improve the quality of life for people living with chronic pain, leading to a full-time senior music therapy position at the HSE Pain Management Center in the Midwest. I was able to.
“There are few music therapists working across the HSE, and none working in the treatment of pain in adults, so this was a really exciting opportunity,” Dr Fitzpatrick said.
“In some ways, it can be difficult because there aren’t many music therapists with the same experience. However, I have been able to connect with colleagues who work internationally in the music therapy and pain fields, and I am able to connect with colleagues working internationally in the fields of music therapy and pain, which allows me to connect with colleagues working internationally in the field of music therapy and pain. I realized there was a lot of overlap. and other chronic conditions.
“We hope that this post will set a precedent for more creative art therapy posts and that a dedicated grading structure will eventually become legally recognized in our profession.”
Dr. Fitzpatrick continues to guest lecture in music therapy courses and supervise graduate student research, with a primary focus on helping people living with chronic pain.
“I have the opportunity to work with wonderful clients who are often experiencing high levels of distress and find ways to cope with this through music and creativity,” she said.
“I want to do what I can to improve the status of music therapy within the HSE. I am continuing some research as part of my post and am currently co-editing a book on music in health and wellbeing. , so it is conceivable that I may return someday to complete my postdoctoral research.
“But for now, I’m enjoying regular work hours and time walking my dog and pursuing my music and hobbies. I’ve also taken Italian classes at UL’s language center. .”