Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) belongs to a group of psychological therapies described as arts psychotherapies. DMP utilises creative expression and exploration (and particularly improvisational movement) as a way-in to the unconscious process. In DMP we pay attention to what moves us and how our relational body holds past experience, relationships and trauma. Engaging in the creative process allows us to gain a deeper understanding of our presenting issue through the use of symbolism, reflection and perspective taking. 

As a registered dance movement psychotherapist with the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (since 2007), my clinical experience in the NHS includes individual and group therapy in adult mental health services, mother and baby units and continuing care units for dementia. I have also worked in outpatient services in the community including a local authority early intervention family service. 

As a therapist I have moved with newborn babies, older adults in their nineties and all age groups in between. I have moved with people of different sexual orientations, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, with gender conforming and non-conforming individuals and with people who are new to creative practice as well as with experienced movers and artists. I have yet to meet a person who has not discovered the joy and fulfillment of connecting with themselves and others through movement and creativity. 

Our capacity for connection  may be undermined or disrupted by crisis, major life transitions or events, illness, loss, environmental factors and lifestyle patterns. Psychotherapy allows us to attend to parts of ourselves previously unseen or suppressed as meaningful pieces in our life’s story.