Petra Kovács

Kovács Petra Vitória, PhD is a complex art therapist, music therapist and neurologic music therapist. She has been a member of the professional team at the MURMO Child Psychiatry and Art Therapy Centre since 2017, where she works with children and adolescents in individual and group therapy and developmental processes and also participates in professional training programmes and parent groups.

Her main professional areas include the application of art and music therapy in child psychiatric and special educational settings, with a particular focus on autism-specific music therapy and neurologic music therapy. In her therapeutic work, music, creativity and shared artistic processes provide opportunities for connection that can support self-expression, emotional processing and development on both verbal and non-verbal levels.

Since 2013, she has also worked through Örömzene Bt. as a complex art therapist, community music therapist and creative music educator. She leads self-awareness, recreational and developmental groups for children and adults with special needs, as well as community music programmes, music education workshops and professional training sessions.

Earlier in her professional career, she worked extensively in the fields of social integration, trauma, equal opportunities and the support of vulnerable social groups. At the Open Society Institute Foundation she worked as a programme director, senior trainer and sociotherapist, while also gaining research and teaching experience at institutions including Eötvös Loránd University, the European Roma Rights Center and the Metropolitan Research Institute.

Her professional approach is strongly shaped by a commitment to social integration, respect for human dignity, and the therapeutic use of creative and community-based methods. In her work, the therapeutic relationship, musical and artistic self-expression, and the development of individual resources complement one another.

✓ Qualifications

• 2020 – Music Therapy Relationship Analysis, Prof. Karin Schumacher
• 2019– – The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy (NMTA) – Neurologic Music Therapist, Associate Level
• 2015–2018 – Ronnie Gardiner Method, Germany – RGM Instructor and Master Therapist
• 2013–2016 – Hungarian Association for Art and Sociotherapy (MMSZKE) – Complex Art Therapy Group Leader
• 2013–2014 – Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) – Art Therapist
• 2012 – University of Theatre and Film Arts – Creative Music Games, Sáry Method – Certified Sáry Method Instructor; trainer from 2014
• 2011–2012 – Eötvös Loránd University, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education – Music Therapy Training
• 1998–2004 – Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences – PhD in Social Policy
• 1993–1996 – ELTE–UNESCO English-Language Minority Sociology Programme – MA in Sociology, specialising in Minority Sociology
• 1992–1993 – Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne – MA in Public Policy Analysis
• 1988–1992 – Budapest University of Economic Sciences – BA in Business Administration, Marketing and Communication

★ Experience / work experience

• 2017– – MURMO Child Psychiatry and Art Therapy Centre – complex art therapist, music therapist and team member; individual and group therapy and development, child psychiatric and adolescent groups, autism-specific and neurologic music therapy, professional training and parent groups
• 2013– – Örömzene Bt. – managing director, complex art therapist, community music therapist and creative music educator; individual and group therapeutic processes, community music programmes, music education workshops and professional training
• 1996–2013 – Open Society Institute Foundation – programme director, senior trainer and sociotherapist; training and curriculum development, social integration, trauma-related work, equal opportunities programmes and sociotherapy with vulnerable groups
• 2000–2004 – Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Sociology and Social Policy – external lecturer in public policy and social integration
• 1995–1996 – European Roma Rights Center, Budapest – researcher and trainer
• 1995 – Metropolitan Research Institute, Budapest – researcher
• 1993–1995 – Kopint-Datorg, Budapest – research assistant
• Extensive experience in music therapy and complex art therapy in child psychiatric and special educational settings, including work with children with special needs and neurodevelopmental differences
• Extensive experience in community development, group facilitation and training in the fields of social integration, conflict and trauma
• Professional co-leader of the Music Therapy Professional Club; member of the Hungarian Association for Art and Sociotherapy and the Hungarian Music Therapy Association