First Name:
Dr. Cathy
Last Name:
McKinney, MT-BC
Main Title:
Professor of Music Therapy
Phone Number:
828-262-6444
Email:
Type:
Area(s):
Dr. Cathy McKinney is a full professor of music therapy in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, where she was the founding program director for both the graduate and undergraduate music therapy programs. She specializes in music therapy in mental health, clinical improvisation, supervision, and the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). A Fellow and endorsed trainer of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI), Dr. McKinney co-edits the Journal of the AMI. Her research focuses on the psychological and physiological effects of GIM, with publications in esteemed journals across music therapy, psychology, music and medicine, and behavioral medicine.
Dr. McKinney's excellence in teaching was recognized by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors with the Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009. She has held significant leadership roles, including past president of the Southeastern Region of the National Association for Music Therapy (SER-NAMT), the Music Therapy Association of North Carolina, and AMI. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and chaired the AMTA Education and Training Advisory Board. Her contributions to the field have been honored with the Service Award and the Research Award from SER-NAMT, and the Award of Merit from AMTA in 2003.
Dr. McKinney holds a Ph.D in interdepartmental studies (music therapy and behavioral medicine) from the University of Miami, where she was a University Doctoral Fellow, a Master of Arts in music therapy from the University of Northern Colorado, a music therapy equivalency from Western Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and music from Duke University.