Laurel Young

Laurel is an accredited music therapist (MTA) and a certified practitioner in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (FAMI).

Prior to joining the Department of Creative Arts Therapies, she was the Professional Leader of Creative Arts Therapies at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto). She has taught music therapy courses at Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo) and Temple University (Philadelphia) and received awards from both institutions for her outstanding contributions to the field of music therapy.

She has over 23 years of clinical experience in various areas including geriatrics/dementia, cancer, HIV, palliative care, community mental health, and developmental disabilities. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals and books, presented as a keynote speaker in international settings, and served on multiple boards in the field of Music Therapy.

Currently, she is a member of Concordia’s University Research Ethics Committee, the Associate Director of engAGE, Concordia’s Centre for Research on Aging, and a research member of Centre for Research and Expertise in Social Gerontology, PERFORM and the Arts in Health Research Collective.