Dance Movement Psychotherapy
When life feels demanding, overwhelming or heart-breaking we need time and space to reconnect with ourselves. Dance Movement Psychotherapy will offer you a compassionate and safe space where difficulties can be shared and where a deeper understanding and new meaning can arise.
Whilst talking can be an important part of our work together, Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) invites you to move beyond words. DMP is a creative and holistic approach to psychotherapy that celebrates the deep interconnectedness between your body and mind and values body movement as one of our most accessible forms of communication and self-expression.
DMP helps when words alone can't express the depths and complexity of your feelings and lived experience. It goes beyond the limitations of verbal communication and offers a non-judgemental space to explore your inner world creatively. To move beyond words can be helpful when thinking processes have become stuck and ruminating has taken hold.
Early pioneers of DMP referred to 'the wisdom of the body'. The last 30 years research in the field of neuroscience and psychology have underpinned this notion and we now draw from a wealth of knowledge regarding body-mind interconnectedness and how somatic experiences contribute to psychological healing. We understand that the 'body keeps the score' (Bessel Van der Kolk) and know of the importance to pay careful attention to somatic experiences when recovering from trauma.
Dance and movement can raise spirits and bring joy as well as providing a safe vehicle for sadness and sorrow and can allow you to connect with an empowering sense of playfulness and creativity within yourself.
What to expect?
Sessions will be a combination of talking and movement, in a way that suits you. There is no expectation what a session should entail, but a 'typical' session may include a verbal check in, an invitation to work creatively on any themes arising through movement and sessions end with some verbal reflection on your experience. You do not need any prior experience of dance or be physically fit or able bodied in order to benefit from DMP.
What can DMP help with?
DMP is a versatile therapy that can help with various concerns, such as anxiety and depression, trauma (past or present), relationship challenges or difficult relationship patterns, low self-esteem/ self-confidence, loss of identity, stress and burnout.
First steps:
I offer a free phone call (up to 20 minutes) as an initial step to understand what you are looking for and how I might be able to support you. It also offers you the possibility to ask a few question you may have. From there, we can decide whether to schedule a first meeting.
In a first meeting we will have more time to explore your concerns, hopes and how we can work together and clarify any questions about therapy you may have. I will ensure that you are well-informed before we embark on the therapeutic work. I offer both, short and long term work.
Fees: £80 per session. A concessionary rate is available for students or clients on a low income, please feel free to ask me about this.