Heather O’Donnell is a psychologist (M.Sc.), an Artistic-Systemic Therapist (cert.: DGSF), and the founding director of TGR The Green Room. With a background as a former professional pianist who experienced career-disrupting injuries, she developed over the years innovative methods aimed at accompanying clients on their lifelong journey towards health recovery, self-actualization, professional development, and sustained well-being.
While transitioning from her career as a musician, she studied Psychology (B.Sc.) at the Freie Universität in Berlin and received a M.Sc. in Prevention and Health Psychology at the SRH Hochschule, as well as a certificate in Musicians’ Health at the Kurt Singer Institute / Universität der Künste in Berlin. She is trained as a MTTC Mindfulness Teacher (teachers: Christopher Titmuss and Ulla König) and as an Artistic-Systemic Therapist (cert.: DGSF).
Heather O'Donnell is dedicated to helping clients out of dead-end situations, exploring blockages and blind-spots with them. She works with clients navigating critical aspects of illness, health and recovery. She is a trusted resource for clients going through career transitions and professional restructurings. Due to her experiences living in various cultures, she helps clients understand and navigate intercultural issues.
Heather's work extends beyond individual engagement- she advises organisations on issues such as systemic change and leadership models. She presented at the International Symposium of the Performing Arts Medical Association (PAMA) at University College London (2024) and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City (2017, 2021), the European Network of Cultural Center’s (ENCC) conference in Orihuela, Spain (2022), at OTM On The Move’s conference on Mental Health, Well Being, & International Cultural Mobility (2023), at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad (2016), and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Rheinsberg (2015). She has served as a guest lecturer at the iArts School in Hangzhou, China, the New England Conservatory in Boston, and the Ostrava Music Festival in the Czech Republic and as a jury member at the Concours international de piano d'Orléans in 2012.
Heather O'Donnell has given workshops, lectures, and masterclasses at renowned institutions including Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, Cornell University, the Robert-Schumann-Musikhochschule, the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music in Beirut, and Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. From 2017 to 2019, she was a faculty member in the Humanities Department at the Eastman School of Music, where she regularly gave workshops on musicians’ health and practice strategies at the Eastman Institute of Music Leadership. In 2024, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).
Booking / Prices / Conditions
Please book a free initial consultation (c. 45 Minutes) here:
In Person in TGR The Green Room (Cologne, Germany)
If you choose to continue, psychological counseling and Artistic-Systemic Therapy are priced at 100 € per session (60 minutes). I hold a certain number of spots each week free for those who cannot afford the full price and/or who are experiencing acute difficulties and need to be scheduled quickly. Please speak with me about these options at our initial consultation.
In case of cancellation, please give me 24-hours notice, otherwise I have to charge you for the session.