Barbara Dunn

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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

 

 

Contact Information
Barbara Dunn, PhD, LICSW, MT-BC 

Email	Address	Telephone
barbdunn@whidbey.com	P.O. Box 43 Clinton, WA 98236	206-491-5047