Dr. Christopher Beach, MT-BC, NICU-MT, CCTP
Assistant Professor of Music Therapy
Office: Mary Moody Northen Hall, Room 260
Email: cbeach@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2862
Professional Profile
Dr. Beach is a licensed and board-certified music therapist, with certifications in NICU music therapy and is a certified clinical trauma professional. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Heidelberg University and Master of Music Therapy from Florida State University in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Dr. Beach later returned to Florida State University and earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education / Music Therapy in 2023. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Beach has worked in his capacity as a music therapist in behavioral health centers, intensive out patient telehealth programs, medical settings, and forensic mental health hospitals.
Teaching and Related Service
With a focus on relational connection, Dr. Beach strives to create a learning environment that fosters growth and exploration, with the diverse needs of his students as the foundation. Through his teaching and clinical supervision, students deepen their ability to engage in self-reflection, while expanding their creative output. Dr. Beach has been invited as a guest lecturer for multiple universities and organizations, and presents regularly at regional, national, and international conferences.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Beach has published numerous articles on the topic of trauma-informed care within the scope of music therapy work. Stemming from this work, Dr. Beach was invited to become a fellow of the NICU-MT Institute, a recognition held by only a handful of professionals worldwide. He holds additional research interests in music therapy curriculum and relational understanding and integration within varying clinical and academic settings. Additionally, Dr. Beach has provided service to the American Music Therapy Association at both the regional and national levels, as well as being an invited reviewer for manuscript publications.