Kathleen Howland, MT-BC, PhD has worked with a variety of clinical populations using music to enhance speech, language, cognition and movement in habilitation and rehabilitation settings. She has also developed protocols to reduce stress and anxiety for general wellness, surgical preparation, oncology treatments and child birthing. Howland's doctoral studies in music and cognition have informed and supported her interest in bridging the communities of science and art in order to identify best practices.

In addition to her training in music therapy, Howland is also a Speech Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP). This certification has advanced the theoretical and clinical foundations from which she works and problem solves. She seeks to find entry points to abilities nested in disability and be innovative to engineer skill advancement for improved function and quality of life.

Howland currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Berklee College of Music and The Boston Conservatory in music therapy, music education and liberal arts, providing her the opportunity to bring clinical work into the classroom and academic resources to clinical work. She lectures locally and internationally about the neurological foundations for music perception and performance and the power of music as a therapeutic intervention.