Hayes School of Music

Cathy McKinney, PhD,  MT-BC

Cathy McKinney is a professor of music therapy at the Hayes School of Music and served as the founding program director for both the graduate and undergraduate degree programs in music therapy. Dr. McKinney teaches in the areas of music therapy in mental health, clinical improvisation, supervision, and the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). A Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI) and trainer endorsed by AMI, she is co-editor of the Journal of the AMI. Dr. McKinney has published in music therapy, psychology, music and medicine, and behavioral medicine journals. Her primary area of research is the psychological and physiological effects of GIM. The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina awarded her the Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009.

A past president of the Southeastern Region of the National Association for Music Therapy (SER-NAMT), the Music Therapy Association of North Carolina, and AMI, Dr. McKinney has served in numerous positions at state, regional, and national levels in music therapy. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and past chair of the AMTA Education and Training Advisory Board. Dr. McKinney received both the Service Award and the Research Award from the SER-NAMT. In 2003, AMTA honored Dr. McKinney with the Award of Merit.

Dr. McKinney has clinical experience across a wide range of populations and diverse settings from hospitals and residential facilities to private practice. She has presented her work at state, regional, national, and international conferences.

Dr. McKinney received the bachelor's degree with majors in psychology and music from Duke University before completing the music therapy Equivalency at Western Michigan University. She received an interdisciplinary Master of Arts in music therapy from the University of Northern Colorado and the Ph.D. in interdepartmental studies (music therapy and behavioral medicine) from the University of Miami, where she was a University Doctoral Fellow.

Selected Publications in Refereed Journals or Books:

Waller-Wicks, C., & McKinney, C. H. (in press). Music therapy and expressive arts therapy to promote self-awareness and self-care in direct care staff. Arts in Psychotherapy.

Papanikolaou, E., McKinney, C. H., Hannibal, N., Tsouvelas, G., Panoskaltsis, T., & Karageorgopoulou, S. (2023). Guided Imagery and Music during the course of active treatment for breast and gynecologic cancer: An RCT Pilot. Journal of Music Therapy, 60(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thad011

Honig, T. J., McKinney, C. H., & Hannibal, N. (2021). A multi-site randomized controlled feasibility study on the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in the treatment of depression. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 17, 27–54.

Honig, T. J., & McKinney, C. H. (2021). Monitoring variation to Guided Imagery and Music (GIM): Development of the GIM Treatment Fidelity Instrument. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 30(5), 440–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2021.1888781

Papanikolaou, E., McKinney, C. H., & Hannibal, N. (2020). Guided Imagery and Music during active treatment for gynecologic cancer: Results of a feasibility study. Music and Medicine, 12(3), 199–209.  https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd/v12i3.670

Papanikolaou, E., McKinney, C. H., & Hannibal, N. (2020). Guided Imagery and Music during active treatment for cancer:  Considerations for clinical practice. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 17, 55–71. https://doi.org/10.59451/jami.96951

McKinney, C. H. (2019). Quantitative research in guided imagery and music: A review. In D. E. Grocke (Ed.), Guided Imagery and Music: The Bonny method and beyond (2nd ed.; pp. 565–575). Barcelona Publishers.

McKinney, C. H. (2018). Cathy H. McKinney. In J. Mahoney (Ed.), The lives of music therapists: Profiles in creativity (pp. 774–801). Barcelona Publishers.

McKinney, C. H., & Honig, T. J. (2017). Health outcomes of a series of Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music sessions: A systematic review. Journal of Music Therapy, 54(1), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thw016

McKinney, C. H. (2016). Experimental designs: Factorial designs. In B. Wheeler (Ed.), Music therapy research (3rd ed.). Barcelona Publishers.

McKinney, C. H. (2016). Evaluating objectivist research. In B. Wheeler (Ed.), Music therapy research (3rd ed.) Barcelona  Publishers.

McKinney, C. H., & Grocke, D. E. (2016). The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music for medical populations: Evidence for effectiveness and vision for the future.  Music and Medicine, 8(2), 18–25.

Fox, E., & McKinney, C. H. (2015). The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music for music therapy interns: Effects on professional and personal growth. Music Therapy Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miu049

Chwalek, C. M., & McKinney, C. H. (2015). The use of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in music therapy: A sequential explanatory study. Journal of Music Therapy(4), 52, 282–318. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thv002

Hoyle, J. N., & McKinney, C. H. (2015). Music therapy in the bereavement of adults with intellectual disabilities: A clinical report. Music Therapy Perspectives, 33(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miu051

Ventre, M. E., & McKinney, C. H. (2015). The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. In B. L. Wheeler (Ed.), Music therapy handbook (pp. 196–205). Guilford.

McKinney, C. H. (2015). Foreword. In D. Grocke & T. Moe (Eds.), Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and music imagery methods for individual and group therapy (pp. 15–17). Jessica Kingsley .

Jacobsen, S. L., McKinney, C. H., & Holck, U. (2014). Effects of dyadic music therapy intervention on parent-child interaction, parent stress, and parent-child relationship in families with emotionally neglected children: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Music Therapy, 51(4), 310–332. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thu028

Jacobsen, S. L., & McKinney, C. H. (2014). A music therapy tool for assessing parent-child interaction in cases of emotional neglect. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 51, 310–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0019-0

Schwantes, M. B., McKinney, C. H., & Hannibal, N. (2014). Music therapy's effects on levels of depression, anxiety, and social isolation in Mexican farmworkers living in the United States: A randomized controlled trial. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 41, 120–126.

Schwantes, M. B., Wigram, T., McKinney, C., Lipscomb, A., & Richards, C. (2011). The Mexican corrido and its use in a music therapy bereavement group. Australian Journal of Music Therapy, 22, 2–20..

Schwantes, M. B., & McKinney, C. H. (2010). Music therapy with Mexican migrant farmworkers: A pilot study. Music Therapy Perspectives, 28(1), 22–28.

Teague, A. K., Hahna, N. D., & McKinney, C. H. (2006). Music therapy with women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Music Therapy Perspectives, 24(2), 80–86.

McKinney, C. H. (2005). Evaluating quantitative music therapy research. In B. Wheeler (Ed.), Music therapy research: Quantitative and qualitative perspectives (2nd ed.; pp. 236–245). Barcelona Publishers .

McKinney, C. H. (2002). Quantitative research in guided imagery and music: A review. In K. E. Bruscia & D. E. Grocke (Eds.), Guided imagery and music: The Bonny method and beyond (pp. 459–476). Barcelona Publishers.

McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., & Kumar, M., Tims, F. C., & McCabe, P. M. (1997). Effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy on mood and cortisol in healthy adults. Health Psychology, 16, 390–400.

McKinney, C. H., Tims, F. C., Kumar, A., & Kumar, M. (1997). The effect of selected classical music and spontaneous imagery on plasma beta-endorphin. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 20, 85–99.

McKinney, C. H., & Tims, F. C. (1995). Differential effects of selected classical music on the imagery of high versus low imagers: Two studies. Journal of Music Therapy, 32, 22–45.

McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, A., & Kumar, M. (1995). The effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) on depression and beta-endorphin levels in healthy adults: A pilot study. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 4, 67–78.

McKinney, C. H. (1993). The case of Therese: Multidimensional growth through guided imagery and music. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 2, 99–109.

McKinney, C. H. (1992). Challenges of the journey. Music Therapy Perspectives, 10, 78–80.

Jensen, K. L., & McKinney, C. H. (1990). Undergraduate music therapy education and training: Current status and proposals for the future. Journal of Music Therapy, 27(2), 158–178.

McKinney, C. H. (1990). Music therapy in obstetrics: A review. Music Therapy Perspectives, 8(1), 57–60.

McKinney, C. H. (1990). The effect of music on imagery. Journal of Music Therapy, 27(1), 34-46.

Books(

Atkins, S., Adams, M., McKinney, C., McKinney, H., Rose, L., Wentworth, J., & Woodworth, J. (2003). Expressive arts therapy: Creative process in art and life. Parkway Publishers.

Adams, M., Atkins, S., McKinney, C. H., McKinney, H., Rose, L., & Wentworth, J. (2000). Collective voices in expressive arts. Boone, NC: Appalachian State University.

Atkins, S. A., Chester, T. W., Adams, M. A., McKinney, C. H., & McKinney, H. V. (1998). Expressive arts: An invitation to the journey. Boone, NC: Appalachian State University.

Selected Presentations at State, Regional, National and International Meetings:

McKinney, C. H. (2023). Quantitative research in Guided Imagery and Music: Outcomes for mind and body. Continuing education presentation (3-hr) for the 20^th anniversary conference of the Korean Association for Music and Imagery.

Honig, T. J., & McKinney, C. H. (2023). Perspectives on GIM as a transformative process. Presentation for the biennial conference of the Association for Music and Imagery. Ypsilanti, MI.

Burgner, B., Marinucci, C., McKinney, C. H., Johnson, E., Goldberg, F. W., Borling, J., Moffitt, L., Dimiceli-Mitran, L., Ventre, M., Cohen, N., Bird, N., & Vilá, S. (2021, July). Exploring the frontier of GIM through Zoom: Training and Beyond. Roundtable presentation for the virtual conference of the Association for Music and Imagery.

McKinney, C. H. (2018, November 9). Finding meaning in the numbers: Analysing data in quantitative and mixed methods outcome studies. Invited presentation for the PhD course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2016, November 7). Cohen’s d as a measure of effect size in a systematic review:  When d ≠ d. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H., King, K. W., & Barmore, E. A. (2016, April 1). Where’s the evidence for GIM? Results from a systematic review and an experiential session. Presentation for the conference of the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Macon, GA.

McKinney, C. H., King, K. W., & Barmore, E. A. (2016, March 31­–April 1). Meeting the client in the music: Exploring therapeutic improvisation. Continuing education presentation (5 hr) for the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Macon, GA.

Atkins, S., McKinney, C. H., McKinney, H., Snyder, M., Caldwell, K., Thorp, H., & Adams, M. (2015, October 8).  Collaborative process in expressive arts. Concurrent session presented at conference of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association Conference, Hong Kong.

Atkins, S., McKinney, C. H., McKinney, H., Snyder, M., Caldwell, K., Thorp, H., & Adams, M. (2015, October 6­–7). Nourishing the inner life with expressive arts. Invited 7-hr  preconference workshop presented twice for the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association Conference, Hong Kong.

McKinney, C. H. (2015, July 17). REK: A new advanced music program. Presentation for the conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Newark, NJ.

McKinney, C. H. (2015, April 22). Evaluating quantitative research studies: The search for integrity. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H., & Honig, T. J. (2015, March 26). Wellness for the music therapist: Using music and imagery to enhance resilience. Presentation for the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Columbia, SC.

McKinney, C. H. (2014, November 5). Inaugural lecture: Guided Imagery and Music: Toward mind/body wellness. Invited presentation for Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2014, April). Review of statistical designs. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H., & Honig, T. J. (2014, March 28). Music and imagery methods in clinical practice. Presentation for the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Mobile, AL.

McKinney, C. H. (2012, October 19). Research in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and mental wellbeing. Invited presentation for the symposium, Music therapy research and mental health: Harnessing directions for the future. University of Melbourne, Australia.

McKinney, C. H. (2012, April 26). Research questions in the literature. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2011, November). The legacy of Helen Bonny: Physiological and psychological effects of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Presentation invited by the Research Committee for the conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Atlanta, GA.

McKinney, C. H. (2011, May 4-5). Evaluating quantitative research. Invited 5-hr presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H., (2011, March 31). Effecting physiological and psychological change through the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Presentation for the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Spartanburg, SC.

Dempsey, D., & McKinney, C. H. (2010, November 20). Music therapy for young adolescents who have experienced the death of a loved one. Poster presentation for the American Music Therapy Association, Cleveland, OH.

Schwantes, M. B., McKinney, C. H., & Wigram, T. (2010, November 20). Participatory action research: One method of culture-centered research. Poster presentation for the American Music Therapy Association, Cleveland, OH.

McKinney, C. H. (2010, November 6). Befriending imperfection: Lessons from mistakes along the researcher's journey. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2010, November 5). Quantitative research methods. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2009, May 2). The psychobiology of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Presentation for the Sixth Nordic Music Therapy Conference, Aalborg, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2009, April 25). Physiological variables in music therapy research. Invited presentation for the PhD Course in Music Therapy Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H., & Ventre, M. (2009, March 28). An experiential overture to the Bonny method of guided imagery and music. Four-hour presentation at the conference of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Richmond, VA.

McKinney, C. H. (2009, March 7). An experiential overture to the Bonny method of guided imagery and music. Five-hour continuing education course presented at the invitation of the conference chair in conjunction with the conference of the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Minneapolis, MN.

McKinney, C. H. (2009, March 5). The psychobiology of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. Invited presentation for the conference of the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Minneapolis, MN.

McKinney, C. H. (2008, October 10). A journey into Guided Music and Imagery (GIM). Invited lecture for the Western Michigan University celebration of the 50th anniversary of the music therapy program and meeting of the Michigan Music Therapists, Kalamazoo, MI.

McKinney, C. H. (2007, November 16). Music, mind, and body: Exploring GIM and PNI. Invited panel presentation for American Music Therapy Association, Louisville, KY.

McKinney, C. H. (2007, October 26). Music therapy and psychoneuroimmunology. Public guest lecture for the Music and Health Series. University of Iowa, Iowa City.

McKinney, C. H. (2006, November 18). Levels of practice in music therapy. Presentation for the conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Kansas City, MO.

McKinney, C. H. (2005, April 20). Two outcome studies of the effects of GIM: Implications for clinical method. Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2005, April 19). Quantitative research in music and imagery. Guest presentation for graduate music therapy students at Aalborg University, Denmark.

McKinney, C. H. (2005, April 16). GIM research related to cancer treatment: A review. Presentation for international research symposium on music therapy in oncology held in Aalborg, Denmark.

Cohen, N. S., Forinash, M., McKinney, C., Standley, J. M., Wigram, T. (2004, November 21). Graduate music therapy education: Where are we heading? Panel presentation for the conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Austin, TX.

Hahna, N., Teague, A., & McKinney, C. H. (2004, March 25). Music therapy with women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Harrisburg, PA.

McKinney, C. H. (2002, June 21). The Bonny method of GIM: The state of the science for a therapeutic art. Presentation for the conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Atlanta, GA.

McKinney, C. H. (2001, October 27). The research committee presents: The Bonny method of GIM: Scientific evidence for a therapeutic art. Invited presentation for the conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Pasadena, CA.

McKinney, C. H. (2001, March 22). Music and imagery methods in clinical practice. Presentation for the conference of the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Knoxville, TN.

McKinney, C. H. (Moderator), Berlin, A., Jenkins, J., Lokey, M., Quam, S., Stephenson, C. (2001, March 23). Outreach panel on music therapy in mental health. Panel presentation for the conference of the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Knoxville, TN.

McKinney, C. H., & West, T. M. (2000, April 3-4). An experiential introduction to the Bonny method of guided imagery and music. Five-hour continuing education course presented in conjunction with the conference of the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Miami, FL.

McKinney, C. H., & West, T. M. (2000, April 4). Finding your healing space. Presentation for the conference of the Southeastern Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Miami, FL.

Burns, D. S., Clark, M. F., McKinney, C. H., & West, T. M (1999, November 21). The Bonny method of guided imagery and music in the treatment of persons with cancer. Presentation for the Ninth World Congress of Music Therapy, Washington, DC.

Correira, C. F., McKinney, C. H., Pavlicevic, M., Perilli, G., Scheiby, B., & Standley, J. M. (1999, November 21). Five international models: Panel on quantitative research. Presentation for the Ninth World Congress of Music Therapy, Washington, DC.

Tims, F. C., Eisdorfer, C., McKinney, C. H., Kumar, M., & Kumar, A. (1999, May 24). Psychological and physiological effects of wellness-enhanced group organ lessons in well older adults. Presentation for the Music Making and Wellness Task Force of the National Association of Music Merchants, Carlsbad, CA.

Clair, A. A., Eagle, C. T., McKinney, C. H., Tims, F. C., & Bruhn, K. (1999, April 24). Music therapy as a component of your practice. Presentation for Music Medicine: Enhancing Health through Music jointly sponsored by the University of Miami Schools of Medicine Music, Miami, FL.

McKinney, C. H. (1998, October 28-29). Music through the mind to the body and spirit. Presentation for Music Therapy: Healing for the Body, Mind, and Spirit, ten-hour workshop sponsored by Caldwell County Hospice, St. James Episcopal Church, and Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir, NC.

McKinney, C. H., & Burke, M. (1998, October 2). User-friendly research strategies for the music therapist. Five-hour workshop sponsored by the Music Therapy Association of North Carolina, Fayetteville, NC.

Clark, M. F. & McKinney, C. H. (1998, June 13). Exploring your relationship with music through imagery. Ten-hour workshop provided for members of the Board of Directors of the Creative Motion Alliance, St. Meinrad, IN.

Tims, F. C. & McKinney, C. H. (1997, November 22). Medical applications of music therapy: Beyond the year 2000. Presentation for the 48th annual conference of the National Association for Music Therapy, Los Angeles, CA.

Tims, F. C., & McKinney, C.H. (1997, November 19). Music-making with well elderly: Implications for Health. Invited presentation for the Institute on Music Therapy and Aging: Trends for the Millennium. Sponsored by the National Association for Music Therapy and the Los Angeles Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Tims, F. C., McKinney, C. H., Kumar, M., & Kumar, A. (1997, August 13). Neuroendocrine effects of music therapy interventions. Presentation for August 12-16 research conference of psychiatrists, neurologists, nurses, and music therapists chaired by Ake Seiger, MD, Ph.D., Stockholm, Sweden.

Simonton, C., Hull, A., Tims, F. C., McKinney, C. H., and Kumar, M. (1997, April). Music as a healing force. Plenary session for the Second Annual Alternative Therapies Symposium, Orlando, FL.

Bruhn, K., Fletcher, R., McKinney, C., Smith, D. S., & Tims, F. C. (1996, November). Music making and wellness: strategic alliances between music therapists and the music products industry. Panel presentation for the Joint Conference of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music Therapy, Nashville, TN.

McKinney, C. H. (co-chair), Beck, D. M. (co-chair), Lane, D., Standley, J. M., Thaut, M. H., Tims, F. C., & Tomaino, C. M. (1996, November). Institute on music therapy and health care: Implications for nursing. Seven-hour continuing education institute for music therapists and nurses held at the Joint Conference of the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Association for Music Therapy, Nashville, TN.

Bonny, H. & McKinney, C. H. (1996, April). Introduction to guided imagery and music (GIM). Five hour continuing education course at the conference of the Southeastern Chapter of the National Association for Music Therapy, Charlotte, NC.

McKinney, C. H. (program chair), Chesky, K., Lane, D., McIntosh, G., Michel, D. E., Rohrbacher, M., Thaut, M., Tims, F. C. (1995, November). Outreach program on music therapy and medicine. One-day presentation for the medical community held in conjunction with the annual conference of the National Association for Music Therapy, Houston, TX.

Atkins, S., Adams, M. A., McKinney, C. H., McLaughlin, J. (1995, September). Making women's magic: Transforming ourselves and our organizations. Opening, evening, and closing sessions for the North Carolina Association for Women in Education, Asheboro, NC.

McKinney, C. H. (1995, June). Engagement versus resistance in the GIM process: Relationship to therapeutic outcome. Paper presented at the ninth international meeting of the Association for Music and Imagery, Little Switzerland, NC.

McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, M., Tims, F. C., & McCabe, P. M. (1995, March). Effects of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy on mood and cortisol in healthy adults. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, New Orleans, LA.

McKinney, C. H. (1994, November). Music through the mind to the body: Psychoneuroimmunology and GIM. Paper presented at the 45th annual conference of the National Association for Music Therapy, Orlando, FL.

McKinney, C. H., Antoni, M. H., Kumar, H., Tims, F. C., & McCabe, P. M. (1994, November). Changes in mood, cortisol, and EBV antibody levels associated with a short series of guided imagery and music sessions in healthy adults. Poster presented at the annual conference of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society, Key Biscayne, FL.

McKinney, C. H., Tims, F. C., Kumar, A., & Kumar, M. (1994, November). Music, imagery, and plasma beta-endorphin. Poster presented at the 45th annual conference of the National Association for Music Therapy, Orlando, FL.

McKinney, C. H. (1994, July). GIM and PNI. Paper presented at the 8th annual international conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Calistoga, CA.