Dr. Brian Abrams

Director, Music Therapy
Villa Maria 208, extension 3490

Ph.D., Temple University
M. Music Therapy, Temple University
B.S., State University of New York at New Paltz
B.A., Vassar College
Licensed Professional Counselor - Pennsylvania
Fellow - Association for Music and Imagery
Music Therapist - Board Certified

Publications

Abrams, B. (2003). Book Review [A comprehensive guide to music therapy: Theory, clinical practice, research and training]. Music Therapy Perspectives, 21, 51-52.
Abrams, B. (2002). Definitions of transpersonal BMGIM experience. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 11 (2), 103-126. .
Abrams, B. (2002). Methods of analyzing music programs used in the Bonny Method. In K. E. Bruscia & D. E. Grocke (Eds.), Guided Imagery and Music: The Bonny Method and beyond (pp. 317-335). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.
Abrams, B. (2002). Transpersonal dimensions of the Bonny Method. In K. E. Bruscia & D. E. Grocke (Eds.), Guided Imagery and Music: The Bonny Method and beyond (pp. 339358). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona.
Abrams, B. (2001). Music, cancer, and immunity. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 5 (5), 222-224.
Abrams, B (2001, April). Music, cancer, and immunity (part 2). PNI and Complementary Therapies Newsletter of the Oncology Nursing Society, 9 (2),3.
Abrams, B. (2001, March). Music, cancer, and immunity (part 1). PNI and Complementary Therapies Newsletter of the Oncology Nursing Society, 9 (1),2-3,5.
Abrams, B. (2001). Defining transpersonal experiences of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) (Doctoral dissertation, Temple University, 2000). Dissertation Abstracts International-A, 61 (10), 3817. (UMI No. 9990288)
Abrams, B., Dassler, A., Lee, S., Loewy, J., Silverman, F., & Telsey, A. (2000). Instituting music therapy in the NICU: A team centered approach. In J. V. Loewy (Ed.), Music Therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (pp. 21-37). New York: Beth Israel Medical Center.

Presentations

Abrams, B., & Kasayka, R. (2004, March). The use of music and imagery for persons in end-of life care. Paper presented at the symposium on Music Therapy at the End of Life. Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York.
Abrams, B, & Abrams, J. (2003, November). Developing the musical self of the music therapist. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Abrams, B., Davis, J., & Ollerton, T. (2003, November). Family portrait: The use of music therapy in the treatment of domestic violence. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Abrams, B., Ollerton, T., Davis, J., & Droubay, S. (2003, September). Family portrait: The use of music therapy in treatment of domestic violence. Paper presented at the Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council annual Treatment Providers Conference, Ogden, Utah.
Abrams, B. (2003, May). Criteria for evaluation of qualitative music therapy research. Panel discussion at plenary session of the fourth Nordic Music Therapy Conference, Bergen, Norway.
Abrams, B, & Abrams, J. (2003, March). Developing the musical self of the music therapist. Continuing music therapy education course presented at the annual conference of the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, San Diego, California.
Abrams, B. (2002, November). The unique role of music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Atlanta, Georgia.
Abrams, B., & Abrams, J. (2002, November). Developing the musical self of the music therapy student. Workshop facilitated at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Atlanta, Georgia.
Abrams, B. (2002, September). Music therapy in treatment for domestic violence. Paper presented at the Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council annual Treatment Providers Conference, Provo, Utah.
Abrams, B. (2002, July). Applications of the RepGrid technique in music therapy research. Paper presented at the tenth World Congress of Music Therapy, Oxford, England.
Abrams, B. (2002, April). Music therapy for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU):A consideration of the music. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Portland, Oregon.
Abrams, B., & Loewy, J. (2001, October). Treating persons with sickle cell disease through music therapy and medicine. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Pasadena, California.
Abrams, B. (2001, July). Applications of the Repertory Grid technique in Guided Imagery and Music research. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Abrams, B., Dassler, A., Lee, S., Loewy, J., Silverman, F., & Telsey, A. (2000, December). Instituting music therapy in the NICU: A team-centered approach. Paper presented at the colloquium on Music Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York.
Abrams, B. (2000, November). Defining transpersonal experiences of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, St. Louis, Missouri.
Abrams, B. (2000, March). Music therapy in cancer care. Paper presented at the annual Cancer Control Conference of Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware.
Abrams, B. (2000, January). Music therapy in cancer care. Paper presented at the conference of the New Mexico chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Abrams, B. (1999, November). Music therapy in cancer care. Paper presented at the annual Fall Institute of the Oncology Nursing Society, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Abrams, B., Cook, M., Goldberg, F., Hesser, B., Kasayka, R., McKinney, C., Meadows, A., Pickett, E., Sonnen, C., & Ventre, M. E. (1999, November). Guided Imagery and Music and its relationship to music, imagery, and altered states work. Course facilitated at the ninth World Congress of Music Therapy, Washington, D. C.
Abrams, B. (1999, July). Music therapy and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Paper presented at the annual learning conference of the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Abrams, B., Bums, D., & Logan, H. B. (1999, June). Guided Imagery and Music in cancer care. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Music and Imagery, Chicago, Illinois.
Abrams, B., Borling, J., Meadows, A., & Muller, B. J. (1998, November). Men's experiences in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music: Exploring the dynamics of the male guide. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Cleveland, Ohio.
Abrams, B., & Logan, H. B. (1998, November). Experiences of music therapists using the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music in oncology. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Cleveland, Ohio.
Abrams, B. (1998, October). Uses of music and imagery for individuals with physical illness. Paper presented at the annual Conference on Applied Communication, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Abrams, B., & Dileo, C. (1998, April). Beyond words: Music in cancer care. Paper presented at the annual Radiation Nursing Conference of Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Interviews & Media Appearances

New Wave Coming in Music Therapy (interview by Alan Edwards, published in the Desert Morning News, Salt Lake City, Utah, April, 2003, internet document).
Utah's Only Music Therapy Program Stays Elsewhere (interview by Laura Cantera, published in The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University, September, 2002, pp. 10-11).
New Professor Brings Fresh Ideas (interview by Hilary Ingoldsby, published in The Statesman, Utah State University, September, 2001).
Wisdom Television (appearance and interview in a series featuring Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center's Center for Health and Healing, New York, February, 2001).
Health Watch, CBS Evening News (appearance in a story by Jim Axelrod featuring applications of complementary therapeutic modalities in surgical medicine; shown working with a patient pre- and post-surgically, New York, January, 2001).
Making Miracles: Music Therapy Brings Healing (interview by Susan Cort Johnson, published in Patient Education Management, University of Pennsylvania, June, 1999, pp. 63-66).
The Music Man: The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center's Brian Abrams Uses Music Therapy to Enhance the Well-Being of Cancer Patients (interview by Linda B. Randolph, published in Penn Health Magazine, University of Pennsylvania, April, 1999, pp. 4-5).