About Dance Movement Psychotherapy
Dance Movement Psychotherapy provides the conditions for learning, growth and healing through compassionate, embodied awareness within a therapeutic relationship. The MA level training supports self reflexivity as a practitioner and finding a style of practice best suited to the facilitator and people we work with.
It is a unique form of psychotherapy in which the creative use of dance, movement and somatic sensing play a key role. The recognition and expression of physical sensations, thoughts and emotions are facilitated by the therapist through the medium of the body, inviting the unconscious into consciousness. As we connect to the direct experience of our embodied being, we awaken our somatic intelligence and begin to know our true nature.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy is founded on the principle that movement reflects an individual’s patterns of thinking, feeling and communicating. Through acknowledging and supporting the client’s movements, the therapist encourages development and integration of new adaptive movement patterns together with the emotional and relational experiences that accompany such changes. Body awareness and breath are invited as a resource to staying awake to whatever is happening in the present moment. Being witnessed just as we are, we learn to accept and appreciate all parts of ourselves and shed unhelpful thinking.
The in-depth training includes study of western psychotherapy and group psychotherapy models, infant movement development, Laban Movement Analysis, psychopathology, anatomy and physiology, weekly individual and group psychotherapy for the duration of the training, and clinical practice with a variety of client groups supervised by a registered psychotherapist. Training in mental health is integral.
DMP is practised as both individual and group therapy; in education, health, social services and other community-based settings (eg voluntary and private organisations), prison services and in private practice. The profession is being continually informed by international research studies.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy is an evidence-based practice regulated by the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK) and The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTR) in the USA. The training is equivalent to UKCP psychotherapy (UK) and MFT (USA) Further information is available on the resources page.
““Salma was challenging but positively so, purposeful with sensitivity.””
Online Sessions
50 minute session: via ZoomYou-choose sliding scale according to your means £60 / 90 / 120 / 140
Payment must be made in full by bank transfer which has cleared the day before the appointment.
Cancellation policy An appointment is considered confirmed once verbally agreed. If you cannot attend a planned appointment please call or email to notify me as soon as possible. Please note that if you cancel an appointment with less than 48 hours notice, 50% of the appointment fee will be charged. If less than 24 hrs notice is given, or you do not attend for an appointment the full fee is payable.
I offer concessions for people in financial need, please ask.
I am only offering short term work at this time and taking maternity leave early July 2020.
UK residents please pay by Bank transfer in advance of your session.
Residents of other countries please pay via PayPal.
For an appointment contact me via email.