The Bonny Institute

Welcome to the highlights and history of The Bonny Institute.

An Organization Founded by Helen Bonny
Pioneer Helen Bonny created The Bonny Foundation in 1988 for the purpose of promoting the legacy of her work. Initially it provided training in The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. In 2004 it shifted its focus to other educational projects and changed its name to The Bonny Institute.

Helen Bonny, Founder of The Bonny Method An unexpected encounter with music inspired Helen Lindquist Bonny to explore the transformative power of music. She founded The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, now recognized internationally as a major model of music therapy. She continues to be a light that inspires others to connect more deeply with music.
"Music, as a structured envelope of sound, is probably the most effective and safe opener to the doors of the psyche. It reaches beyond personal defenses to the realities and beauties of the person. Music gives access to the discovery of inner strength, uncovers the potential for creativity, and manifests ways in which life can be lived from a center of inner security.” Helen Bonny, World Congress of Music Therapy

Joining Energies with AMI
Helen Bonny chose the phoenix as her special symbol, representing continual growth and rebirth. In mid-2008, The Bonny Institute concluded its work, came to closure, and transferred its resources to its sister organization, the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI). In the spirit of the phoenix, this joining of energies invites the potential for promising new avenues of growth and renewal.

Gift: From Inspiration to Transformation
The Bonny Institute and its founder share a sense of gratitude and the love of spirit enfolded within music. As a means of passing on this legacy, the Institute produced two innovative DVD films in 2008.

1. The Creation of Guided Imagery and Music: A Journey with Helen Lindquist Bonny - Helen Bonny recounts her transformative encounter with music and shares many of her life stories, struggles, and accomplishments.

2. Invited by Music: Explorations in Consciousness - Poignant interviews with practitioners of The Bonny Method and others capture the power of music to heal and transform.

To culminate its twenty-year history, The Bonny Institute gifted this two-DVD set to supporters and AMI members. Entitled From Inspiration to Transformation, it is a rich biographical, historical, and clinical resource uniquely suited for training, outreach, personal renewal, and connecting more deeply with music. It is available for purchase from AMI.

A Contribution of Resources to AMI
In addition to the DVDs, The Bonny Institute contributed a rich set of resources to AMI:

Valuable archive of Helen Bonny's papers donated to the Paley Library of Temple University. Visit: www.temple.edu/musictherapy/home/dbs/gim_bonny.htm
CD presentations on music at the edges of life from The Bonny Institute's 2006 Conference. Topics are: music and psyche, music before and after birth, and the use of The Bonny Method at the end of life.
Continued stewardship of the Institute's energies within AMI by the recent past president of The Bonny Institute.

For more information about these resources or The Bonny Institute, contact AMI.

Continuing the Legacy
We encourage you to carry forth the legacy of Helen Bonny by utilizing the power of music and The Bonny Method for insight, creativity, healing, and transformation.