Christina
O'BRIEN, Ed.D., MT-BC, LPC
Clinical Coordinator of Music Therapy, Adjunct Faculty
253, Swope Music Building
COBrien@wcupa.edu
Education
- Ed.D, West Chester University
- M.A., Immaculata University
- B.M., West Chester University
Certifications
- Board-Certified Music Therapist (MTBC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, PA only)
- Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, Level I Certified
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).
Service & Leadership
- The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association, Executive Board
President-Elect, July 2025 - July 2027 - The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association
Ethics Committee, January 2025 - December 2026 - The Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association
CMTE Peer Reviewer, March 2026
Publications
O'Brien, C. (2026). "They just gave me the syllabus": A Mixed Methods Study of Music
Therapy Educators' Preferred Pedagogies." West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects. 65.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_capstones/65
Refereed Research Presentations & Workshops
Suh, E., O’Brien, C. D. & Vereen, I. (2026, July). ACCEPTED: Connecting borders through rhythm: A cross-cultural examination of percussion-based interventions to reduce aggression and enhance social-emotional development in adolescents. 18th World Congress of Music Therapy, Live, Bologna, Italy.
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, July). ACCEPTED: Listening from the inside: Creative healing within juvenile detention. 18th World Congress of Music Therapy, Live, Bologna, Italy.
O'Brien, C. D. (2026, May 16). We heal together: LGBTQIA+ mental health & wellness day retreat. LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County. Chester County, PA
Suh, E. S., Force, K. & O’Brien, C. D. (2026, May 13). Healing harmonies: Music therapy for mind & body. United for HER, Workshop, Live VIA Zoom, Malvern, PA
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, April 16). “They just gave me the syllabus”: A Mixed Methods Study of Music Therapy Educators’ Current Pedagogical Practices. Research and Creative Activities [Poster Presentation]. Live In-Person, West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, March 1). “They just gave me the syllabus”: A Mixed Methods Study of Music Therapy Educators’ Current Pedagogical Practices. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Hybrid Conference, Live In-Person, Immaculata University, Malvern, PA.
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, February 26). “They just gave me the syllabus”: A Mixed Methods Study of Music Therapy Educators’ Current Pedagogical Practices. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Hybrid Conference, Live VIA Zoom, Immaculata University, Malvern, PA.
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, February 26). Listening from the inside: Creative healing and sonic persistence in juvenile detention. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Hybrid Conference, Live VIA Zoom, Immaculata University, Malvern, PA.
Suh, E., O’Brien, C. D., Vereen, I. & Biddle, C. (2026, February 26). Connecting borders through rhythm: A cross-cultural examination of percussion-based interventions to reduce aggression and enhance social-emotional development in adolescents. Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association Hybrid Conference, Pre-Recorded VIA Zoom, Immaculata University, Malvern, PA
O’Brien, C. D. (2026, February 5). Preferred pedagogies of music therapy faculty towards cultural competence: A mixed methods study. Eastern Educational Research Association, Clearwater, FL.
O’Brien, C. D. (2025, September 17). Listening from the inside: Creative healing within juvenile detention. American Music Therapy Association Symposium, Live VIA Zoom, United States.
Devereaux, C., Krisch, S. & O’Brien, C. D. (2025, April 5). Coping with the creative arts [Using dance, music, and art for student victims of sexual violence]. Expressive Arts Healing Seminar. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States.
Devereaux, C., Krisch, S. & O’Brien, C. D. (2024, November 16). Coping with the creative arts [Using dance, music, and art for student victims of sexual violence]. Expressive Arts Healing Seminar. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States.
Devereaux, C., Krisch, S. & O’Brien, C. D. (2024, April 27). Coping with the creative arts [Using dance, music, and art for student victims of sexual violence]. Expressive Arts Healing Seminar. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States.
O’Brien, C. D. (2022, March 3). Treating the whole family: Best practices and cultural responsibility in hospice music therapy [Seminar for student music therapy education]. Harmony Conference for World Music Therapy Day. Virtual, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States.
O’Brien, C. D. (2021, October 27). Treating the whole family: Best practices and cultural responsibility in hospice music therapy [Seminar for continuing music therapy education]. Immaculata University. Immaculata, Pennsylvania, United States.