Writings & Radio Interviews

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Master Thesis, M.Sc. Prevention and Health Psychology

Modelling against scarcity: an interview with Heather O’Donnell

My disruptive and mysterious health issues

Interview with Heather O’Donnell about prevention and health psychology for musicians (in english), June 2020

The Broken Musician The Taboo of Injury and Disability in Music Article for VAN Magazine, Berlin May 2016

The Pianist's Eye, Lilian Kallir's Musical Alexia Article for VAN Magazine, Berlin January 2016

On Record with Heather O'Donnell: ”Considering Clara Schumann” Interview with Julia Figueras on WXXI 91.5 Classical Radio March 2019

Endings and Beginnings

The Unseen and Continuing Waves of the Pandemic for Musicians

Playing Music, Hearing a New Song

Lost in the (Neuronal) Stars. Presented at the Performing Arts Medical Association Symposium, Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY July 2016

The Case of the One-Armed Pianist Radio Documentary by Guy Livingston May 2016

Marsyas bound: Neurological dysfunction and its impact on pianists, from a pedagogical perspective. Rehabilitative work at the instrument with affected pianists.

The Elephant on the Table A pianist confesses her injuries June 2009

Listening through the Piano September 2008

Honest Sounds October 2008

About Heather:

Heather O’Donnell is a psychologist (M.Sc.), Artistic-Systemic Therapist (DGSF), and the founding director of TGR The Green Room. Drawing on her own transformative journey from professional pianist to therapist after career-disrupting injuries, Heather has spent years developing innovative approaches to support individuals seeking health recovery, self-actualization, and sustainable well-being.

Her academic path began with a B.Sc. in Psychology from Freie Universität Berlin, followed by an M.Sc. in Prevention and Health Psychology from SRH Hochschule. She also holds a certificate in Musicians’ Health from the Kurt Singer Institute / Universität der Künste Berlin and is trained as a mindfulness teacher (MTTC) by Christopher Titmuss and Ulla König and as an Artistic-Systemic Therapist (DGSF).

Heather specializes in helping clients move beyond dead-end situations, exploring the root causes of blockages and uncovering blind spots. She works with individuals navigating illness and health challenges, career transitions, and major life restructurings. Having lived across multiple continents, Heather also supports clients in understanding and navigating intercultural dynamics, providing guidance rooted in personal experience and cultural insight.

Beyond her one-on-one work, Heather advises organizations on systemic change and leadership development, fostering healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures. She has presented at international conferences, including the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Symposium at University College London (2024) and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City (2017, 2021), the European Network of Cultural Centers’ (ENCC) conference in Spain (2022), OTM On The Move’s forum on Mental Health & International Cultural Mobility (2023), the World Piano Conference in Serbia (2016), and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany (2015).

As a guest lecturer, Heather has worked with institutions such as Columbia University, the New England Conservatory, Rhodes University in South Africa, and the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music. From 2017 to 2019, she served as a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, offering workshops on well-being and professional development. In 2024, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).

Heather’s mission is to help clients (re)discover their potential, find resilience, and design ways of living that align with their values and aspirations.