Heather O’Donnell
psychologist & Artistic-Systemic Therapist
Heather O’Donnell is a psychologist (M.Sc.), certified artistic-systemic therapist (DGSF), and the founding director of TGR The Green Room. Originally an internationally engaged concert pianist, her career was redirected following injury—an experience that became the foundation for her later work. Drawing from her artistic background, she has developed innovative approaches to support individuals navigating health recovery, personal growth, career development, and long-term wellbeing.
During her transition away from the stage, she completed a B.Sc. in Psychology at the Free University of Berlin, followed by an M.Sc. in Prevention and Health Psychology at SRH University. She holds a certificate in Musicians’ Health from the Kurt Singer Institute / University of the Arts Berlin and is trained as a mindfulness teacher (MTTC) by Christopher Titmuss and Ulla König. Her practice integrates systemic therapy, artistic methods, and intercultural insight.
Heather O'Donnell works with clients facing critical turning points in illness, health, and recovery, as well as those undergoing professional transitions and restructuring. Having lived in diverse cultural contexts, she brings a nuanced understanding of intercultural challenges to her work. She is a trusted resource for individuals and organizations alike, often advising on systemic change and leadership culture.
Her expertise is recognized internationally. She has presented at the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) International Symposium at University College London (2024) and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York (2017, 2021), the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) conference in Spain (2022), On the Move’s event on mental health and mobility (2023), the World Piano Conference in Serbia (2016), and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (2015).
She has been a guest lecturer at institutions including the New England Conservatory (Boston), iArts School (Hangzhou), Columbia University, Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf, the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music (Beirut), and Rhodes University (South Africa). From 2017 to 2019, she was a faculty member in the Humanities Department at the Eastman School of Music, where she also taught regularly at the Eastman Institute for Music Leadership.
In 2024, she was elected to the board of the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC), and in 2025, she joined the roster at the Music Industry Therapist Collective (MITC).
Her work bridges therapeutic depth, systemic thinking, and artistic intelligence—always with the aim of fostering sustainable health, development, and cultural transformation.
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 Counselling and Artistic-Systemic Therapy are billed according to the current recommendations of the German fee schedule for therapists (GOP – Gebührenordnung für Psychotherapeut*innen).
A 55-minute session is priced between €100–150, depending on the scope and intensity of the work.
I reserve a limited number of reduced-fee places each week for clients who cannot afford the full rate or who are experiencing acute difficulties and need to be seen quickly. If this applies to you, please feel free to discuss these options with me during our initial consultation.