“The unique premise of dance/movement therapy is that psychological and somatic constructs are truly identical, that one necessarily implies the other, and that it is merely the perspective or ‘‘point of entry’’ that differentiates them. The clear therapeutic implication is that modifying any of these elements, by necessity, leads to changes in the others.” Susan Cohen, Dance/Movement Therapist
This course will reorient your understanding of the role of embodiment in psychological healing. The weekend will be highly experiential, and provides an opportunity to learn about the many rich areas of application of dance/movement therapy approaches in psychotherapy. Learn about the theoretical and historical foundations, concepts, and applications of dance movement therapy. The course includes neurobiologically informed approaches to movement in working with children, adolescents, and adults, addressing grief and loss, trauma, and cultivating vitality and creativity through movement. On Saturday afternoon, Barbara Jo Stetzelberger, LCSW, BC-DMT, will present her groundbreaking work with adolescents using therapeutically informed approach to creativity and dance performance in working with adolescents.
Each student will identify their own areas of interest and investigate and share these ideas through a final paper.
Sample Reading List:
Bernstein, Bonnie. Dancing beyond Trauma: Women Survivors of Sexual Abuse. In: Fran Levy (ed) Dance and Other Expressive Arts Therapies, New York and London: Routledge Press, 41-58.
Dillenbeck &Hammond-Meiers (2009). Death and Dying: Implications for Dance/Movement Therapy. American Journal Dance Therapy, 31 (1), 95-121.
Dayanim, S. Goodill, S.W., Lewis, C. (2006). The Moving Story: Effort Assessment as a Means for the Movement Assessment of Preadolescent Children. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 28 (2), 87-106.
Gray, A.E.L. (2008). “Dancing in our blood: Dance Movement Therapy with Street Children and Victims of Organized Violence in Haiti.” In Jackson, N., & T. Shapiro-Lim, Dance, Human Rights and Social Justice: Dignity in Motion. Scarecrow Press, 222-236.
Kierr, S (2011). Is Dance/Movement Therapy Relevant to the Process of Achieving a Healthy Sexuality? American Journal of Dance Therapy, 33(1), 42-56.
Koch, Sabine (2008) Dance/Movement Therapy with Clergy in Crisis: A (Group) Case Study. American Journal of Dance Therapy, Vol. 30 (1), 71-83.
Leventhal, Marcia (2008) Transformation and Healing Through Dance Therapy: The Challenge and Imperative of Holding the Vision. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 30 (1), 4-23.
Mitchell, P. and Schoop, T. (1986). Reflections and Projections: The Schoop Approach to Dance Movement Therapy. In: Penny Lewis-Bernstein, Eight Theoretical Approaches in Dance/Movement Therapy. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, 37-59.
Wadsworth Hervey, (2007) Embodied Ethical Decision Making. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 29 (2), 91-108.