Dance Movement Psychotherapy

Overview

The Dance Movement Psychotherapy programme is offered at the Goldsmiths, University of London.

Your learning will be underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy within the social, political and multicultural context of mental health care and educational settings. Study is informed by contemporary dance practice, Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and somatic bodywork.

Through theoretical studies, movement observation studies, dance practice workshops, clinical work and experiential learning, you integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and other.

The nature of the therapeutic relationship is explored in depth through movement and dance and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through at least 90 days of supervised placements. This gives you the opportunity to relate your practical experience to your theoretical studies.

You'll be encouraged to develop your own dance/movement practice and to situate your work in relation to your development as a therapist, to contemporary dance and movement practice. You're required to be in personal therapy throughout the programme (please note that this is at your own cost).

Skills

Key employability skills developed on the course include: 

• Personal development planning
• Creativity
• Initiative
• Adaptability
• Reflective processes
• Tolerance for stress
• Practical and Professional elements
• Listening
• Interpersonal sensitivity
• Organisational sensitivity
• Questioning
• Teamwork
• Written communication 

Careers 

Examples of places that DMP MA graduates are currently working:

• Mainstream, special and therapeutic schools.
• Pupil referral units
• Organisations for adoption and fostering
• Children and adults in not-for-profit organisations
• Drugs intervention team
• Addictions service
• Dance for Parkinsons
• Prisons
• Community, creative and therapeutic dance for children and adults
• Dance therapy and mindfulness based approaches
• Honorary DMP contract –  NHS Trust
• Sessional DMP work for C.I.C ‘Dance and Dementia’.
• Creative Therapist, NHS Foundation Trust, CAMHS Specialist Intervention Team
• Lecturing (e.g. UEL  on use of the body in the counselling/therapy relationship
• PhD study