Dr. Barbara Minton, Ph.D, BCN, QEEG-D, is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Boise, Idaho. She attended music school for three years before earning a joint Ph.D. in developmental and child clinical psychology from the University of Denver. After working in Alaska, she returned to Idaho and turned her attention to neuroscience-informed mental health interventions using music to optimize human functioning.

Mr. Calum Graham is a celebrated world-class fingerstyle guitarist from Victoria, BC, who plays a variety of genres. He tours worldwide, has released multiple albums, composed a score for the IMAX movie on Humpback Whales, and plays alongside many other famous musicians. He has kindly agreed to partner with Dr. Minton in her research on music and the brain.

Course Description: This is an innovative course, in which live music from Mr. Graham will be used to demonstrate research findings on the impact of music on the brain and body. You will learn how to use music to create states that encourage emotional and physical healing and accomplish specific therapeutic goals. The impact of music on conditions such as depression, ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum, and insomnia will be reviewed. We will look at videos showing the brain responding to musical events and learn which parts of the brain are most involved in music processing. You will learn how to use this knowledge to develop specific musical experiences for you or your clients to enhance functioning.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the research findings on the impact of music on a wide variety of mental health conditions and in optimizing human functioning.
2. Identify parts of the brain that are impacted by music and how to use this knowledge to increase its effectiveness.
3. Create playlists and other musical interventions for clients or oneself.
4. Manage ethical principles and practices related to the use of music in mental health.