Psychotherapy, Music Therapy,
Music & Psychotherapy Supervision,
CMTE Continuing Education Courses,
Coaching & Mentoring, Research Consultation,
Keynotes & Workshops

Research:
Past Research Projects

PALLIATIVE CARE

Projects

  1. The utility of music therapy and psychotherapy for relationship completion
  2. Scoping review of music therapy in palliative care settings
  3. The usage and application of singing and vocal interventions utilized by music therapists working in palliative and cancer care
  4. Burnout in palliative care music therapists
  5. The benefits of music therapy for pain management

Research Related Publications

  1. Clements-Cortés, A. & J. Yip (Eds.) (2021). Relationship completion in palliative care music therapy. Barcelona. (Co-editor and author/Co-author of 8 Chapters)
  2. Clements-Cortés, A. (2018). Relationship completion in palliative care music therapy: Clinical case example-Part 1. Music and Medicine, 10(2), 80-90.
  3. Clements-Cortés, A. (2018). Relationship completion in palliative care music therapy: Clinical case research overview and results-Part 2. Music and Medicine, 10(2), 91-97.
  4. Clements-Cortés, A. (2017). Singing and vocal interventions in palliative and cancer care: Music therapists’ perceptions of usage. Journal of Music Therapy, 54(3), 336-361.
  5. Clements-Cortés, A. & Klinck, S. (2016). Voices of the dying and bereaved: Music therapy narratives. Barcelona.(Co-editor and author of 4 Chapters)
  6. Clements-Cortés, A. (2013). Burnout in music therapists: Work, individual, and social factors. Music Therapy Perspectives, 31(2), 166-174.
  7. Clements-Cortés, A. (2011). The effect of live music vs. taped music on pain and comfort in palliative care. Korean Journal of Music Therapy, 13(1), 105-121.
  8. Clements-Cortés, A. (2011). Portraits of music therapy in facilitating relationship completion at the end of life. Music and Medicine, 3(1), 31-39, doi: 10.1177/1943862110388181.
  9. Clements-Cortés, A. (2010). The role of music therapy in facilitating relationship completion in end-of-life care. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 16(1), 112-136.
  10. Clements-Cortés, A. (2009). Episodes of relationship completion through song in palliative care. [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Toronto

Additional Peer Review Related Publications

  1.  Clements-Cortés & Klink, S. (2024). Fostering pre-professionals and learning experiences in end-of-life care contexts: Music therapy internship supervision. Healthcare, 12, 459. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040459
  2. McConnell, T., Gillespie, K, Potvin, N., Roulston, A., Kirkwood, J., Thomas, D., McCullagh, A., Roche, L., O’Sullivan, M., Binnie, K., Clements-Cortés, A., DiMaio, L., Thompson, Z., Tsiris, G., Radulovi, R., & Graham-Wisener, L., (2024). Developing a best-practice agenda for music therapy research to support informal carers of terminally ill patients pre- and post-death bereavement: A world café approach. BMC Palliative Care, 23(33), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01369-8
  3. Srolovitz, M., Borgwardt, J., Burkart, M., Clements-Cortés, A., Czamanski-Cohen, J., Ortiz Guzman, M., Hicks, M. G., Kaimal, G., Lederman, L., Potash, J. S., Yazdian Rubin, S., Stafford, D., Wibben, A., Wood, M., Youngwerth, J., Jones, C. A. & Kwok, I. B. (2021). Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about music therapy and art therapy. Journal of Palliative Medicine. doi:10.1089/jpm.2021.0481
  4. Clements-Cortés, A., & Yip, J. (2021). Medical assistance in dying in Canada: Implications and considerations for music therapists around the globe, Music Therapy Perspectives, 39(1), 11-16
  5. Clements-Cortés, A. (2021). Music and death. In B. Thompson & K. Olsen (Eds.). The Science and Psychology of Music: From Beethoven at the Office to Beyonce at the Gym. (pp. 177-183). Greenwood: ABC-CLIO.
  6. Clements-Cortés, A. & Wright, R. (2020). Singing in palliative care, oncology and bereavement music therapy. In. R. Heydon, D. Faincourt & A. Cohen (Ed.), The Routledge companion to interdisciplinary studies in singing, Volume III, Wellbeing (pp. 170-184). Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781315162546
  7. Clements-Cortés, A. (2019). Bereavement, grief and loss at end-of-life. In D. Grocke (Ed.), Guided imagery and music: The Bonny method and beyond 2nd Edition (pp. 245-258). Barcelona.
  8. Clements-Cortés, A. (2016). Adding music therapy to the care plan. Journal of Palliative Care and Pain Management, 1(1), 1-2.
  9. Clements-Cortés, A. (2016). Development and efficacy of music therapy techniques within palliative care. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 23, 125-129. 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.04.004
  10. Clements-Cortés, A. & Tung, S. (2015). Tree of life in C. Lee and S. Punn (Eds.). Song resources for music therapists. (pp. 95-99). Barcelona.
  11. Bartel, L, & Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). =Dying Healthy: Music in places of palliative care, In G. J. Andrews, P. Kingsbury, & R. A. Kearns, (Eds.). Soundscapes of wellbeing in popular music. (pp.145-157). Ashgate. http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409443599
  12. Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). Death. In W. F. Thompson (Ed.), Music in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Vol #1, pp. 319-323). Sage.
  13. Clements-Cortés, A. (2013). Music as medicine for interdisciplinary team self-care and stress Management in palliative care, In C. L. McLean (Ed.). Creative arts in humane medicine, (pp. 99-110). Brush.
  14. Clements-Cortés, A. (2013). Adults in palliative/hospice care, In J. Allen, (Ed.). Guidelines for music therapy practice in adult medical care (pp. 295-346). Barcelona.
  15. Clements-Cortés, A. (2010). Music and songwriting for closure at end-of-life. In C. McLean & R. Kelly (Eds.), Creative arts in interdisciplinary practice. (pp. 265). Detselig/Temeron.
  16. Clements-Cortés, A. (2008). Music to shatter the silence: A case study on music therapy, trauma, and the Holocaust. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 14(1), 9-20.
  17. Clements-Cortés, A. (2006). Occupational stressors among music therapists working in palliative care. Canadian Association for Music Therapy Journal, 12(1), 30-60.
  18. Clements-Cortés, A. (2004). The use of music in facilitating emotional expression in the terminally ill. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 21(4), 255-260.

Related Funding
$3750 grant from Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing Initiative (AIRS).
AIRS Proposal April 2014-March 2015

Related Media Coverage
American Music Therapy Association (April 2018). Journal of Music Therapy Research Spotlight. Singing and vocal interventions in palliative and cancer care.

Related Recording
Soothing Relaxation Journeys. [Audio] Original scripts and music.

DEMENTIA CARE & HEALTH BENEFITS OF SINGING

Projects

  1. The benefits of singing for health and wellness for persons with dementia and caregivers
  2. The benefits of chamber music experiences for persons with dementia and caregivers
  3. Rhythmic sensory stimulation for persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia
  4. Vibroacoustic therapy for persons with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

Research Related Publications

  1. Kelly, L, Clements-Cortés, A., Ahessy, B., Richardson, I., & Moss, H. (2023). Follow the musical road: Selecting appropriate music experiences for people with dementia living in the community. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10):5818.
  2. Clements-Cortes, A., Bartel, L. (2022). Long-term multi-sensory gamma stimulation of dementia patients: A case series report. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (23), 15553.
  3. Helitzer, E., Clements-Cortés, A., & Moss, H. (2022). Group singing on social prescription: A scoping review. Music and Medicine, 14(4), 226-237.
  4. Clements-Cortés, A. (2017). Artful wellness: Attending chamber music concert reduces pain and increases mood and energy for older adults. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 52, 41-49.
  5. Clements-Cortés, A. Ahonen, H., Freedman, M. & Bartel, L. (2017). The potential of Rhythmic Sensory Stimulation treatments for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease. Music and Medicine, 9(3), 167-173.
  6. Clements-Cortés, A. Ahonen, H., Evans, M., Tang-Wai, D., Freedman, M. & Bartel, L. (2017). Can rhythmic sensory stimulation decrease cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease? A clinical case study. Music and Medicine, 9(3), 174-177.
  7. Clements-Cortés, A., Ahonen, H., Evan, M., Freedman, M. & Bartel, L. (2016). Short term effects of rhythmic sensory stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease: An exploratory pilot study. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 52(2), 651-660. DOI 10.3233/JAD-160081.
  8. Clements-Cortés, A. (2015). Clinical effects of choral singing for older adults. Music and Medicine,7(4), 7-12.
  9. Clements-Cortés, A. (2015). Singing for health, connection, and care. Music and Medicine, 7(4), 13-23.
  10. Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). Sing-along DVD and activity package pilot study with older adults. Music Technology and Education, 7(2), 123-139.
  11. Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). Buddy’s Glee Club two: Choral singing benefits for older adults. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 20(1), 85-109.
  12. Clements-Cortés, A. (2013) Buddy's Glee Club: Singing for life, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 37(4), 273-290, doi : 10.1080/01924788.2013.845716

Additional Peer Review Related Publications

  1. Hanser, S., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Tomaino, C. M. & Clements-Cortés, A., (Eds.). (2024). Music therapy in geriatrics, Volume II, Frontiers in Medicine/Frontiers in Public Health.
  2. Fitzpatrick, K., Moss, H., Bradt, J., Clements-Cortés, A., Corcoran, J., Gallagher, L.M., Guétin, S., Harmon, D., Hussey, C., Loewy, J., & O’Shea, P. (2023). An agenda for excellence: The role of music therapy for people living with chronic pain. Music and Medicine, 15(2), 68-76.
  3. Clements-Cortés, A., (2023). A comprehensive music based approach for chronic pain in a 96-year-old female. Music and Medicine, 15(2), 110-115.
  4. Clements-Cortés, A., Hanser, S. B. & Brotons, M. (2021). Foundations of dementia care for music therapy and music based interventions: Part 1. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 162-168.
  5. Clements-Cortés, A., Brotons, M., Silva, T., & Moreira, S. (2021). Telehealth music therapy for persons with dementia and/or caregivers. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 206-210.
  6. Dassa, A., Ray, K., & Clements-Cortés, A. (2021). Reflections on telehealth music therapy for persons with dementia in response to COVID-19. Music and Medicine, 13(3), 201-205.
  7. Hanser, S., Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M., & Tomaino, C. M. (2020). Music therapy in geriatrics. Frontiers in Medicine, 7(87) doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00087
  8. Clements-Cortés, A. & Yip, J. (2019). Social prescribing for an aging population, Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 43(4), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/01924788.2019.1692467
  9. Clements-Cortés, A. (2019). Understanding the continuum of music experiences for people with dementia. In A. Baird, S. Garrido and J. Tamplin (Eds.), Music and dementia: From cognition to therapy (pp. 5-23). Oxford.
  10. Clements-Cortés, A. & Futerman, L. (2019). Alive inside, dead outside: Cultural implications of the Documentary Alive Inside. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 10(1 & 2), 39-51. doi: 10.1386/iscc.10.1-2.39_1
  11. Clements-Cortés, A. & Bartel, L. (2018). Are we doing more than we know? Possible mechanisms of response to music therapy. Frontiers in Medicine, 5 (Article 255), doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00255
  12. Clements-Cortés, A. & Bartel, L. (2015). Sound stimulation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of Long Term Care, 23(5), 10-16.

Related Funding
“Short term effects of rhythmic sensory stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease: An exploratory pilot study” received a total of ($100 000) grant from the Music and Health Research Collaboratory, secured through private donation facilitated by Dr. Heidi Ahonen.

“Buddy’s Glee studies” were funded through private donation from the Baycrest Centre Foundation, ($18 000) and ($7500) grant from AIRS. Further they were part of the 2.5-million-dollar SSHRC (AIRS) grant of which I was a co-investigator.

2012-2016:
Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing ($2 498, 500)
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (MCRI): Reference Number: 412-2009-1008

Related Media Coverage

Related Recording
Baycrest. (2013). Buddy’s Glee Club CD

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Projects

  1. An explanatory sequential inquiry on music therapy and performance anxiety in university music education majors
  2. Undergraduate internship experiences for music therapy pre-professionals in Canada and the United States.
  3. The development of a training guide to the Tenori-on electronic music instrument and its utility in working with various populations.
  4. Music therapy assessment for older adults: Descriptive mixed-methods study. 

Research Related Publications

  1. Clements-Cortés, A. (2024). Music therapy assessment for older adults: Descriptive mixed-methods study. Behavioral Sciences, 14(5), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050354
  2. Clements-Cortés, A., Pascoe, H., Pranjic, M., & Nan, F. (2024). An explanatory sequential pilot inquiry on music therapy and performance anxiety in university music education majors. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 87,
  3. Clements-Cortés, A. (2019). A sequential mixed-methods study of pre-professionals’ understanding of the undergraduate music therapy internship, Journal of Music Therapy, 56(3), 209-239.
  4. Clements-Cortés, A. (2015). A survey study of Pre-professionals’ understanding of the Canadian music therapy internship experience. Journal of Music Therapy, 52(2), 221-257.
  5. Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). Getting your groove on with the Tenori-on. Music Technology and Education 7(1), 59–74, doi: 10.1386/ jmte.7.1.59_1

Additional Peer Review Related Publications

  1. Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Leonard, H., Chan, V., Trondalen, G., Stingl, T.D. Stegemann, T., & Zanini, C. (2024). Global perspectives on addressing systemic issues in music therapy curricula and healthcare. Voices, 24(1), https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v24i1.3861
  2. Clements-Cortés, A. (2023). Specialized training and continuing Education in the field of music therapy: Current status and perspectives on the future. In K. Goodman (Ed.). Developing issues in world music therapy education and training : A plurality of views. (pp. 227-247). Charles. C. Thomas.
  3. Clements-Cortés, A. (2023). A personal reflection on challenges facing music therapy education, training and clinical practice. Music and Medicine, 15(4), 187-192.
  4. Clements-Cortés, A., & Yip, J. (2022). The impact of systemic language in music therapy and western healthcare systems: A Canadian perspective. Arts in Psychotherapy, 81.
  5. Clements-Cortés, A. (2016). The use of musical autobiographies in sharing professional identity. In. Peterkin & P. Brett-MacLean (Eds.), Keeping reflection fresh: A guide for clinical educators. (pp. 137-140). Kent State University Press.
  6. Lee, C. A. & Clements-Cortés, A. (2014). Applications of clinical improvisation and aesthetic music therapy in medical settings: An analysis of Debussy’s ‘L’isle joyeuse’. Music and Medicine, 6(2), 61-69.
  7. Clements-Cortés, A. (2011). Designing an effective music teacher evaluation system: Part two. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 53(2), 22-24.
  8. Clements-Cortés, A. (2011). Designing an effective music teacher evaluation system: Part one. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 53(1), 13-17.
  9. Clements-Cortés, A. (2010). The role of pop music and pop singers in the construction of a singer’s identity in three early adolescent females. Canadian Music Educators Journal, 51(4), 17-23.

Related Funding

“Music therapy assessment for older adults: Descriptive mixed-methods study” received a $2988.23 grant for open access publication to the Behavioral Sciences Journal.

«An explanatory sequential inquiry on music therapy and performance anxiety in university music education majors” received a $4000 grant from the Joint Consortium of Research & the Institute for Music in Canada.

“A survey study of Pre-professionals’ understanding of the Canadian music therapy internship experience” received a $1000 grant from the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy.

“Getting your groove on with the Tenori-on” received $80 000 grant in the form of-80 Tenori-on units provided for participants to use in the study.

Related Media Coverage

TELEHEALTH

Projects

  1. “International music therapists’ perceptions and experiences in telehealth music therapy provision”

Related Research Publications

  1. Clements-Cortés, A., Pranjić, M.; Knott, D., Mercadal-Brotons, M., Fuller, A., Kelly, L., Selvarajah, I., Vaudreuil, R. (2023). International music therapists’ perceptions and experiences in telehealth music therapy provision. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 5580.

Additional Peer Review Related Publications

Clements-Cortés, A., Mercadal-Brotons, M. (2023). Telehealth music therapy in adult neurological care. In: Devlin, K., Kang, K., Pantelyat, A. (Eds) Music therapy and  music-based interventions in neurology (pp. 161-172). Springer. (Current Clinical Neurology book series). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47092-9_13

Related Funding
$1000 grant from the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Phase One
1875 Euros waived for Open Access Publication to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.