Music Therapy in Eating Disorder Treatment: Research and Practice
June 2 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am PDT
| This webinar will provide an overview of how music therapy and music-based interventions can be integrated and utilized in eating disorder treatment. It synthesizes research and clinical evidence on the ways these interventions support emotional regulation, reduce distress, enhance engagement in treatment, and impact mealtime experiences.
Focus is given to the flexibility and adaptability of music therapy and music-based intervention to be responsive to shifting clinical needs and priorities throughout the course of treatment. The presentation will include case illustrations and practical considerations for implementation and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering recommendations to strengthen coordinated care and support meaningful treatment outcomes. |
Learning Objectives:
Following this presentation, participants will:
- To understand how music therapy and music-based interventions are being integrated into eating disorder treatment across inpatient and outpatient programs and through individual and group delivery formats.
- To review evidence for the clinical impact of music therapy and music-based interventions on key treatment targets, including anxiety, mood regulation, eating disorder symptoms, treatment engagement, and mealtime-related behaviours.
- To review research and practice-based evidence related to how music therapy addresses emerging and changing needs over the course of eating disorder treatment.
- To explore practical implications of implementing music-based interventions for clinical implementation and interdisciplinary care, and to outline recommendations for collaborative practice to support engagement in treatment and treatment outcomes.
Level A: Foundational Knowledge                       Â
This level introduces core concepts, terminology, and basic principles. Participants gain a solid understanding of essential information needed to build competence in the subject area. Ideal for newcomers or those seeking a structured overview.
Â
Annie Heiderscheit, PhD, MT-BC, MFT Bio:
Annie Heiderscheit, Ph.D., MT-BC, LMFT, Professor of Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University and Director of the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, has been a board-certified music therapist for over 30 years, conducting music therapy and music-based intervention research for over 20 years, and a music therapy educator for 25 years.
Dr. Heiderscheit has extensive clinical experience working with patients and their families across the lifespan in critical care, organ transplant, and eating disorder treatment. She collaborates with researchers from leading institutions, including Mayo Clinic, Yale University, University of Minnesota, Indiana University Medical School, Western Sydney University, Cambridge University, and London King’s College.
Dr. Heiderscheit presents and teaches internationally. She has served in leadership roles with international and national organisations, including the World Federation of Music Therapy, International Association of Music & Medicine, and the American Music Therapy Association. She serves on the editorial board of leading journals, Heart & Lung, Frontiers, Trends in Alternative & Complementary Medicine, and Music Therapy Perspectives. She has published extensively, including peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, book chapters, and books.
