MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy

Overview

This programme is designed for people who have prior dance experience and professional?or volunteering experience with people in need and would like to practise as a dance movement psychotherapist.

Dance movement psychotherapy is a relational process in which a client and therapist engage in an empathetic creative process using body movement and dance to assist the integration of emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual aspects of self. We believe that focusing on the creative potential of individuals in a relationship creates a sound ethical basis for psychotherapeutic work.

You will be taught by leading experts who will equip you with the skills, experience, and confidence to work as a dance movement psychotherapist. All graduating students are eligible to apply for registration with the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy (ADMP UK). Graduates often create their own positions; facilitating dance movement psychotherapy sessions within settings including social services; special needs; schools; psychiatry; probationary and rehabilitation units; forensic psychiatry.

Our uniquely interdisciplinary MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy integrates theoretical, experiential, and clinical learning, preparing students to practice as dance movement psychotherapists. Practice-based research cascades into teaching emphasising the social, biological, and psychological construction of the moving body and meaning-making. The programme offers opportunities for you to explore and expand movement preferences, ways of interacting with others, belief systems, prejudices, and values. Emphasis is placed on development of your own style as a dance movement psychotherapist. You also can perform and exhibit your ongoing work in a yearly Arts Therapies exhibition.

The programme ethos emphasises a critical consideration of different descriptions and explanations of bodies, human systems and therapeutic practices in different places and times. In the context of an individual student's experiences, beliefs, values and different cultures, our teaching actively promotes a participatory ethic, self-reflexive practices, and the ability for critical reflection on creative processes, intersubjectivity and the construction of social and power differentials, in learning and in psychotherapy.

Career Options

Graduates can enter a variety of roles including NHS clinical practice within in and outpatient services, community services, prison services, special needs schools, performing arts contexts, drug rehabilitation, in social services with immigrants and asylum seekers, in shelters with women who have suffered domestic abuse, dementia services, learning disabilities services, child and adolescent mental health services.

Applicants will normally be required to hold a good second-class honours degree (or above); in most cases this will be in a dance-related discipline or a clinically related discipline such as Dance, Psychology, Mental Health (Psychiatric) Nursing, or Social Work etc. Alternatively graduate level professional qualifications in appropriate disciplines such as Dance, Drama, Performing Arts, Occupational Therapy, Probation Officers or Social Work, are also accepted.