Research Interests
Social-emotional learning
Music therapy
Pedagogy
Critical perspectives
Opportunities
Work Study Positions Available: No
Grant Funded Positions Available: No
Course-Credit Research Opportunities Available: No
Volunteer Research Positions Available: No
Open to Faculty Mentoring: Yes
Biography
Christina O'Brien is the music therapy clinical coordinator and an adjunct Music Therapy and Music Education professor at West Chester University. Christina teaches music therapy principles for adults, music therapy principles for older adults, functional music skills for voice/guitar, introduction to music therapy, music therapy pre-internship I & II, music therapy internship, and integrating the arts into the elementary school classroom for PreK-4 pre-professionals.
Christina has current and prior clinical experience with varying outpatient mental healthcare needs; incarcerated youth; hospice and terminal illnesses; older adults and aging; children, adults, and seniors with various IDD needs; and inpatient pediatrics. She also has experience with professional music therapy supervision, LPC supervision, and program management in various areas of clinical practice. Christina is involved on campus as a faculty workgroup member for the Center for Community Engagement and Social Impact (CCESI) and the campus-wide Anti-Racist Workgroup. Additionally, she is a member of the American Music Therapy Association, Chi Sigma Alpha Student Affairs Honors Society (Omega Chapter), Alpha Alpha Alpha First Generation Honors Society (Alpha Iota Chapter), Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT), and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
