Dr Rebecca Atkinson

Rebecca is the Business Manager and Researcher with Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy. Aside from business expertise, she gained her PhD from the University of Brighton and is a Neurologic Music Therapist, focusing on paediatric brain injury, neurodegenerative conditions, acute care and community rehabilitation.

[email protected]

Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn

Visit the Chiltern Music Therapy website

View Rebecca's ORCID profile

Background

Rebecca studied music therapy at Anglia Ruskin before going on to co-set up Chiltern Music Therapy, one of England’s largest music therapy providers. Winning multiple awards in the business and music therapy sector, Rebecca led a team of Music Therapists and music practitioners developing innovative services throughout England.

Under an Arts Council scholarship, Rebecca’s PhD research project investigated the impact of music and speech for those diagnosed with Batten disease. Her continued collaboration and affiliation with UK and European research institutions, sees Rebecca at the forefront of current and pioneering research in the arts, health and music therapy sector for Batten disease.

Research interests

• Music Therapy
• Music and Neuroscience
• Neurologic Music Therapy
• Music and Health
• Paediatrics

Qualifications

• BSc Music and Psychology, University of Roehampton
• MA Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University
• Phd, University of Brighton

Memberships, editorial boards

• Board Member, Chiltern Music Therapy

Selected recent publications

Atkinson, R., (2022) Evaluating the Impact of Music Therapy for Children with Dementia RSPH AHP Hub, Accessed 6/9/2022

Atkinson, R., (2021) Why researchers are turning to music as a possible treatment for stroke, brain injuries and even Parkinson’s, The Conversation, Accessed 6/9/2022

Dowson, B., Atkinson, R., Barnes, J., Barone, C., Cutts, N., Donnebaum, E., ... & Schneider, J. (2021). Digital approaches to music-making for people with dementia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Current practice and recommendations. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 625258.

Elmerskog, B., Tøssebro, A. G., Atkinson, R., Rokne, S., Cole, B., Ockelford, A., & Adams, H. R. (2020). Overview of advances in educational and social supports for young persons with NCL disorders. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(9), 165480.

von Tetzchner, S., Elmerskog, B., Tøssebro, A. G., & Rokne, S. (Eds.). (2019). Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Childhood Dementia and Education: Intervention, Education and Learning Strategies in a Lifetime Perspective. Snøfugl forlag.

Recent presentations and conferences

Atkinson, R., (2021) The Impact of Music for children with Batten disease, BDSRA research and family conference, United States

Atkinson, R., (2021) Research Findings on the Impact of Music for Children with Batten Disease, Dementia Centre Australia, Australia