Dr Kathleen Lawson:
M.Mus.Thrpy, B.App.Sc. (Clinical), B.Sc.Chiro.(RMIT), DACNB, Member AMTA & ACA.
Dr Kathleen Lawson has worked in allied healthcare for over 25 years. Her practice as a registered music therapist involves careful selection of musical activities in consultation with the participant, to facilitate positive change towards their identified health and wellbeing goals. This means the intentional and adaptive use of musical activities (and an understanding of both neuroplasticity and positive psychology) as strategies to achieve what are often ‘non-musical’ goals. It also means that you don’t have to be ‘musical’ to be able to engage with this kind of work.
Anyone has the potential to benefit from a music therapy approach once their specific goals have been identified. Music therapy approaches range widely, and can include activities such as music listening, music and imagery, singing, playing instruments, improvisation and even music creation or songwriting, to name but a few possibilities. The choice comes down to the participant and their goals, and people often surprise themselves (and others!) with what they are able to achieve.
Kathleen works with participants from a wide range of circumstances including early childhood and family care, Dementia inclusive care, inter-generational programs, mental health and community programs, as well as research activities (most recently with the University of Melbourne). She also sings with ‘Katandra’ choir in Kiama and teaches singing for children and adults, among many other musical endeavours. She previously directed a successful family-oriented chiropractic practice and continues to undertake post-graduate study both in Australia and overseas, honing her clinical interests in music therapy, functional neuro-rehabilitation and chiropractic care.
Kathleen’s first book published in 2011, “Your Brain, Your Life – Make It What YOU Want!”, takes the complex concepts of functional neurology and makes them relevant in everyday situations, for everyday people. Her energy, enthusiasm and passion when it comes to functional neurology, brain development, learning and positive healthcare are the cornerstones of her teaching, public speaking, private practice and ongoing professional development.
Dr Lawson is a sought-after speaker, delivering engaging presentations for professional, educational and community groups. She has also filled leadership roles with AMTA (Australian Music Therapy Association), ACA (Australian Chiropractors Association), AAFN (Australasian Academy of Functional Neurology), and ACNB (American Chiropractic Neurology Board). She has held positions as a faculty member of the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies (USA) and Chief Examiner for the ACNB’s Post-graduate examinations in Australia, and as a committee member for the AMTA.
