Jodie Bloska

Jodie is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research. She is a qualified music therapist, with experience of working with adults with neurodisabilities and dementia. As part of her role at CIMTR, she is engaged in music therapy research, clinical work, teaching and clinical supervision.

jodie.bloska@aru.ac.uk

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Background

Jodie is currently a research assistant and music therapist on the JPND-funded international research study Homeside. This project is a randomised controlled trial (RCT) exploring home-based music and reading interventions for people with dementia and their family carers.

Jodie studied music cognition and psychology at McMaster University in Canada before completing her music therapy training at Anglia Ruskin University in 2015. Her MA research investigated the benefits of utilising music therapy within physical rehabilitation programmes for people recovering from acquired brain injuries. Since qualifying, she has worked as a music therapist with people living with dementia and with adults in neuro-rehabilitation.

Research interests

• Music therapy
• Dementia
• Neurodisability
• Music psychology

Teaching

Jodie currently teaches on the following modules:

• Principles of Music Therapy (BA Music, BA Popular Music)
• MA Therapies Major Project (MA Music Therapy, MA Dramatherapy)
• Music Therapy and Dramatherapy Multidisciplinary Theoretical Studies (MA Music Therapy)
• Clinical Placements and Experiential Development (MA Music Therapy)

Qualifications

• MA Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University
• Honours Bachelor of Music in Music Cognition, McMaster University

Memberships, editorial boards

• Registered Music Therapist, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Member, British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT)
• Associate Fellow, The Higher Education Academy
• Neurologic Music Therapist, The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
• Language Consultant, Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy

Selected recent publications

Smith, L., Bloska, J., Jacob, L., Barnett, Y., Butler, L., Trott, M., Odell-Miller, H., Veronese, N., Kostev, K., Bettac, E.L., Godier-McBard, L., and Koyanagi, A., 2021. Is loneliness associated with mild cognitive impairment in low- and middle-income countries? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, doi: 10.1002/gps.5524.

Baker, F. A., Bloska, J., Braat, S., Bukowska, A., Clark, I., Hsu, M. H., Kvamme, T., Lautenschlager, N., Lee, Y. C., Smrokowska-Reichmann, A., Sousa, T. V., Stensaeth, K. A., Tamplin, J., Wosch, T. and Odell-Miller, H., 2019. HOMESIDE: Home-based family caregiver-delivered music and reading interventions for people living with dementia: protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 9 (11), pp.1-11.

Odell-Miller, H., Bloska, J., Browning, C. and Hannibal, N. (2019). Process and experience of change in the self-perception of women prisoners attending music therapy: the qualitative results of a mixed-methods exploratory study. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy.

Recent presentations and conferences

Odell-Miller, H., Hsu, M.H., Pool, J., Bloska, J., Crabtree, S. and Wollersberger, N., 2020. Homeside: Partnership in home-based dementia care, and research. Roundtable presentation at British Association for Music Therapy Conference, Virtual Conference 9-11 April 2021.

Odell-Miller, H., Hsu, M.H., Pool, J., Bloska, J. and guests., 2020. Homeside Roundtable: Participant experiences in research on music and reading for dementia. Roundtable presentation at CIMTR Public Research Lecture Series, Virtual Webinar, 22 March 2021.

Chadder, N., Bloska, J., Abington, A., Masterson, A., Whitten, D. and Street, A., 2020. The feasibility and acceptability of neurologic music therapy in subacute neurorehabilitation and mood outcomes for patients. Poster presentation at UK Stroke Forum, Virtual Conference, 7-9 December 2020.

Odell-Miller, H., Hsu, M.H., Molyneux, C., Bloska, J. and Street, A., 2020. Music therapy and dementia roundtable for World Alzheimer’s Day. Roundtable presentation at CIMTR Public Research Lecture Series, Virtual Webinar, 21 September 2020.

Bolton, L., Festa, L., Bloska, J. and Woodward, T., 2018. Music therapy in dementia care settings: How can familiar songs be used to regulate emotions for people with dementia? Workshop at British Association for Music Therapy Conference, London, UK, 18 February 2018.

Webber, J., Bolton, L., Woodward, T. and Festa, L., 2017. MHA practice model: How can music and familiar songs be used to regulate emotions for people with dementia? Workshop at Creative Dementia Arts Network Expert Seminar, Wellcome Trust, London, UK, 20 November 2017.

Media experience

• Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure, BBC One, May 2019
• News Report on Music Therapy in Neurorehabilitation, BBC Look East, May 2019