Biography 

• BS (cum laude), music therapy, Temple University
• MMT, music therapy, Temple University
• PhD, music therapy, Temple University

Dr. Michael Zanders’ research foci includes a variety of topics related to advanced clinical theory, practice and reflexive research in music therapy. His recent research has focused on music therapy treatment practices in working with youth in the child welfare system, particularly foster care youth. 
 
Zanders has presented extensively regionally, nationally and internationally at conferences and workshops, and has published both within the music therapy and counseling/psychotherapy fields. Prior to coming to Temple University, Zanders served as the program coordinator at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). In this role, was he awarded the Innovation in Academia Award for distinguished and innovative leadership. He has developed comprehensive education and clinical training programs that emphasize foundational understanding of competencies and dispositions for music therapy students.

WORKS AND PUBLICATIONS

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

Olson, D. M., Stutzman, S., Perera, A., Atem, F., Wagner, A., Venkatachalam, A., &  Zanders, M. L. (2019- October/November). Music in Mechanically Ventilated Stroke Patients. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.

Zanders, M. L. (2018).  Music as therapy versus music in therapy. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 50(4), 218-219. doi: 10.1097/JNN.0000000000000379.

Zanders, M. L., Midach, M., Waldmeier, L., & Barros, B. (2018). A reflexive music therapy clinical introspection in working with foster care youth. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 18(4).

Zanders, M. L. (2015). Music therapy practices and processes with foster care youth: Formulating and approach to clinical work. Music Therapy Perspectives, 33(2), 97-107.

Olson, D. M., Zanders, M. L., Harrison, K., & Suarez, J. I. (2015). Therapeutic use of music and television in neurocritical care. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 34(1), 6-12.

Dileo, C. & Zanders, M. (2013). In between: Music therapy with inpatients awaiting a heart transplant. Journal of Urban Culture Research, 6, 72-83.

Zanders, M. L. (2012). The Musical and Personal Biographies of Adolescents with Foster Care Experience. Qualitative Inquiries in Music Therapy: A Monograph Series, 7, 71-109

Zanders, M. L. (2008).  Metaphors Clients use to Describe their Experiences in GIM. Qualitative Inquiries in Music Therapy: A Monograph Series, 4, 45-68

Zanders, M. L. (2004).  Multiple perspectives: A guide to qualitative research in music therapy- book review. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

Zanders, M. L. (2004).  Qualitative music therapy research: Beginning dialogues- book review. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

Peer Reviewed Book Chapters/Supplements

Zanders, M. L. (2018). Improvising with foster care youth, case D11. In A. Heiderscheit & N. Jackson (Eds.), Introduction to music therapy practice (p. 250). Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers

Zanders, M. L. (2017). Music therapy practices and processes with foster-care youth. In N. F. Mazza (Ed.), Expressive therapies: Major themes in mental health (pp. 121-146). New York: Routledge. 

Zanders, M. L. (2016). Mixing interpretivist methods. In B. L. Wheeler & K. Murphy (Eds.), Music therapy research, 3rd Edition (pp. 614-621). Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers. 

Zanders, M. L. (2014). Music therapy. In E. S. Neukrug (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychotherapy and counseling (pp. 688-691). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Zanders, M. L. (2013). Foster care youth. In L. Eyre (Ed.), Guidelines for music therapy practice: Mental health of adolescents and adults, volume one (pp. 205-236). Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers. 

Dileo, C. & Zanders, M. (2005). In-between: Music therapy with inpatients awaiting a heart transplant. In C. Dileo, & J. Loewy (Eds.), Music therapy at the end of life (pp. 65-76). Cherry Hill, NJ: Jeffrey Books. 

Media  

2018- Clinical BOPulations Podcasts- Introducing music therapists to new bops and new bops to music therapy. 

2014- AMTA-Pro Podcast Series- Music therapy with foster care youth.