helen g. dolas

Helen G. Dolas, MS, MT-BC has a BA in Music Therapy and an MS in Special Education from California State University, Long Beach.

Celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in 2012, Professor Dolas founded  Arts & Services for Disabled, Inc. (now called  Able Arts Work ) in 1982, a nonprofit organization  that has provided quality creative arts education and therapy, driven  by a ìLove before Learningî philosophy, to over 4,000 individuals with  disabilities. In this capacity, she supervises and trains approximately  65 employees and 600 community volunteers. As one of the largest  employers of music therapists in the region, Ms. Dolas has been the  Clinical Training Director of her American Music Therapy Association  (AMTA)-approved music therapy internship program since 1984.

As an adjunct professor at Chapman University, she has established  several new music therapy clinical training sites: at a private school  for youth with autism, at a center that serves traumatized at-risk  youth, and at UC Irvine Medical Center’s Chao Family Comprehensive  Cancer Center.Professor Dolas also teaches Music Therapy classes at  California State University Northridge (CSUN).

Ms. Dolas is currently partnering with two other music therapists to  establish the International Foundation for the Healing Arts to promote  the development of music therapy services. In 2008 and 2009, Ms. Dolas  was invited by Her Highness Sheikah Mozah of Doha Qatar in the Middle  East as one of 15 US delegates to participate in the Third Annual  International Forum of Children with Special Needs. Ms. Dolas has  received numerous awards including a National Model Program Award at the  US Senate from the National Coalition of Creative Art Therapies (2002),  the Betty Isern Howrey Award – the highest award in the Western Region  AMTA (2006), and the National Professional Practice Award from the AMTA  (2007).

Professor Dolas also serves on the advisory board of  the PLAY MUSIC-ENJOY LIFE! piano series for Music  and Wellness..

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