Influential Woman · Karendgoodmanconsulting.com
Karen Goodman
karendgoodmanconsulting.com
Livingston, NJ 07039
Her Story
About Karen
I entered the field of music therapy in 1976 when it was still early in the profession, and I had to find my way through an unusual path. I wasn't really satisfied with the education that was available at the time, so I was mentored and supervised by different psychiatrists,.. I think that speaks to my point about reaching out to other people to develop your skills and abilities, and they don't necessarily have to be in your immediate profession. I built my knowledge through real-life experience., conducting clinical work at 10 different facilities as a part-time music therapy clinician. I wrote the master's degree program at Montclair State University and helped develop the undergraduate and equivalency programs as well. I've published 4 books on music therapy, with the last two being edited volumes on international perspectives in music therapy education and training. After I retired in 2018 to care for my elderly parents, I opened a consulting firm.. Through this consulting work, I designed a new academic program at the University of Louisiana, Monroe, which was recently accredited.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Karen
01What do you attribute your success to?
Seeking out knowledge not only in context of formal education but also conferences, networking and reading/studying on my own
Persistence
Patience
Move toward the light not the darkness
Appreciate your successes
Learn from your challenges
Parents who provided a role model for productivity and growth
Loving music as a force in my life and to be used to improve the lives of others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I received no particular career advice but I admired and tried to emulate the values of my mentors: Drs. Shale Brownstein, Silvano Arieti, Judith Kestenberg, Stanley Greenspan and Cynthia Pfeffer.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Think out of the box. Never be afraid to take chances. Be transparent. Look for connections with people who can support you in your work. I think it's critical to reach out to other people to develop your skills and abilities, and they don't necessarily have to be in your immediate profession. I built my knowledge through real-life experience with related professionals. In my case, I was mentored and supervised by different psychiatrists,, because I wasn't really satisfied with the education that was available at the time. There's also a lesson that it's never too late to revisit your education - I completed my PhD only 2 years ago after retiring.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Social justice systems can often be used to indoctrinate students; this is not right.
AI may be used inappropriately in professional writing and correspondence
Insurance reimbursement systems for clinical work are challenging
The ego of the clinician, researcher, educator cannot usurp communication
Solutions in training the music therapy student to be flexible and eclectic given various clinical venues and theoretical orientations
The importance of professional supervision
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency
Academic integrity
Stand up to 'isms'
Open discussion
Problem solving
Believe in yourself
Cultivate personal and professional relationships with others on your own
Recognize that politics exist in every workplace
Be aspirational
Tikkun Olum, Repair the World
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