What is Dance Movement Therapy?

Dance Movement Therapy is for anyone; Through movement we come to life.

Combining the benefits of movement, creative therapies and somatic education; Dance Movement Therapy brings the body into mind and to the centre of our explorations and conversations.

The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) defines dance/movement therapy as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual.

Movement with a therapist can support us to develop our awareness of our limitations and habitual ways of being in the world; it can support us through exploration to experience a truer sense of self and move towards a life more aligned with our deeper values.

‘Moving in ways that follow our spirit restore us” Alice Cummins.

DMT can look very different depending on your movement history, worldview and interests; and no specific type of previous “movement experience” is required at all.  If we breathe, we move.

Alex is also a registered Somatic Movement Educator (RSME). Somatic Movement Education supports us to deepen our body awareness and to live more fully in our bodies drawing on the full support of a range of body systems.  She is also trained and experienced in a range of Counselling modalities including Narrative Therapy which can support integration of our movement experience, and application to wider life projects.

Dance Movement Therapy and Somatic Movement Education can support:

·        Increased presence and mindfulness in the body

·        Improved self-regulation and sense of balance

·        Healing and recovery from physical or psychological trauma

·        Connecting and communicating non-verbally: Improved social patterns and reactions

·        Improved health, energy and wellbeing

·        Improved mobility/ expanding our movement range

·        Exploring and expanding our sense of who we can be in the world.

Alex has experience across a range of settings including

·        Mothers with experiences of trauma or PND and their babies

·        Adults and young people with diverse abilities

·        Refugees and asylum seekers recovering from torture and trauma

·        Survivors of sexual assault

·        Teenagers/ School counselling

·        Children and families or couples

·        People experiencing stress, burnout, anxiety and depression

·        Recovery from physical injury or trauma

And a range of other cross cultural settings including collaboration with indigenous communities in the Top end to explore wellbeing and mindfulness in the body.