Therapy, Consultation, Licensure Supervision
Barbara
Dunn, PhD, LICSW, MT-BC
Seattle, WA
First session is free of charge.
Therapy
My therapeutic approach is primarily
eclectic with
influences from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness
practices, and music therapy. Client challenges addressed can include
emotional and/or physical difficulties. These might include adjustment
to medical illness or disability, pain management, anxiety, depression,
relationship problems, communication difficulties, self-expression
(including artistic blocks), grief and loss issues.
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of
Washington and a Board Certified Music Therapist. My PhD studies
focused on transforming conflict through music with an emphasis on
using music as a tool for mediation. I studied ethnomusicology at
Victoria University for one year in New Zealand (Aotearoa). My focus
was on ways people from various ethnicities used music to address
societal, personal, and interpersonal problems.
Aldous Huxley stated, "After silence, that which comes nearest to
expressing the inexpressible is music." The act of creating music can
communicate ideas and truth in feeling that exceeds the spoken word. In
my practice, music therapy is added to the verbal therapeutic process
when appropriate. Music stimulates the emotions, the intellect, and the
body. It can be deeply personal, yet very powerful in uniting a group.
Music therapy techniques used during a session might include listening
and/or relaxation to music, song writing, improvisation, singing,
instrument playing and/or movement to music.
I have more than 25 years of experience as a therapist. This has
included work with individuals who have physical and/or medical
challenges (e.g., cancer, AIDS, pulmonary disease,
Parkinson’s
disease), chronic and acute mental illnesses, at-risk youth, and
developmental disabilities. I work with children/adolescents, adults
and older adults. In addition to private practice, I have
worked
with patients in medical settings for more than 20 years.
Some areas that might be
addressed:
-
Adjustment
to illness (including cancer and pulmonary disease)
-
Pain
management
-
Stress
management
-
Personal
growth
-
Self-awareness
-
Communication
-
Conflict
resolution/conflict transformation
-
Hospice/End-of-life
issues
-
Grief
and Loss
-
Self-expression
-
Creativity/Artistic
blocks
-
Coping
Skills
-
Depression
-
Anxiety
- Life
Transitions
Supervision
and Consultation
Supervision is
available for
therapists working towards licensure in the State of Washington.
Consultation services are available for therapists or organizations
that want to integrate music into their work. These services can be
tailored to meet specific needs of the individual, group or facility.
Please see my website for upcoming workshops and classes.
Related Articles and Forms
What
is Music Therapy?
Intake
Form
Songwriting as Therapy

Music Therapy program at
Whidbey General Hospital
I
have been providing clinical music therapy services to patients at
Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville, WA since June 2002. I also
direct and supervise a
Music Therapy Internship (approved as a national roster site through
the American Music Therapy Association) and a Live Music Program with
volunteer musicians from the community. For more information about this
program visit www.whidbeygen.org or call me at 360-678-7656, ext. 8436.
Awards
and Affiliations
- Professional Practice Award from the
American Music Therapy Association, 1999
- American Music Therapy Association,
member
- Music Therapy Association of
Washington, member

Testimonials
“In
Seattle I had a chance to visit Barbara
Dunn at the Bailey-Boushay House, which is a skilled nursing facility
that specializes in treating people with life-challenging illnesses
such as AIDS and cancer. While there I saw her do a number of positive
things with the patients, including helping them manage their pain and
helping them deal with some of the issues their illnesses brought
out.”
Stanley
Jordan,
Jazz Guitarist
“Barbara is
a passionate believer in music's power to heal. In her work at
Bailey-Boushay House, she was able to sensitively match her gifts to a
wide range of individual needs and backgrounds. Her work enriched the
lives and deaths of many residents and their loved ones at
Bailey-Boushay. With persistence, Barbara also nurtured the growth of a
core of volunteer musicians, spreading the gift of music more widely
through the house.”
Christine
Hurley, Executive Director, Bailey-Boushay
House, Seattle,WA
“You
made my heart sing and gave me something to sing about.
I shall always be grateful.”
Jack
K,
Nursing home resident