This webinar aims to explore the fundamentals of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) and the theoretical frameworks that support this developing field of psychotherapy.
DMT can be defined as "a relational process in which client(s) and therapist engage in an empathic creative process using body movement and dance to assist integration of emotional, cognitive, physical, social and spiritual aspects of self'' (ADMP UK).
Facilitated by Jessica Houghton, this workshop will offer an experiential introduction to the field of DMT. Participants will engage in creative movement experiences which will offer insight into what DMT can look like and provide them with an embodied understanding of the supporting theories and guiding principles.
By situating Dance/Movement Therapy within humanistic, feminist, and phenomenological theoretical frameworks, we can gain insight into how this therapeutic approach is supported by and integrated into the wider field of psychotherapy. We will also consider the importance of embodiment, non-verbal communication, mirroring, attunement, and movement analysis within this profession. Finally, we will reflect on the interconnection between the body, mind and emotions, and how the three influence each other.
Open to anyone interested in learning more about DMT for personal or professional reasons, this event is presented by the National Centre for Dance Therapy and supported by the RBC Foundation.
Note from the National Centre for Dance Therapy : the use of the term psychotherapy is regulated by law in the province of Quebec. Jessica Houghton being a practitioner from Ontario, her credentials and approach are different than the ones of practising DMT in Quebec. We value a multitude of approaches to DMT but encourage you to validate your province or country’s professional law.
Duration: 90-minute theoretical and experiential webinar, followed by a 30-minute Q&A period.
Platform: Zoom.
Language: the webinar will be presented in English.
Price: the event is free of charge but you will need to register to save your spot (we will accept a limited number of participants).
Jessica is a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO), Dance Movement Psychotherapist, educator, and dance artist, working in private practice in Toronto. She completed her Master of Arts in Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) at Roehampton University (London, UK), where she researched the potential benefits of DMP for survivors of sexual trauma and worked in adult and childhood mental health in hospital, community and school settings.
Jessica is a firm believer in the transformative power of dance and movement. Having spent over twenty years of her life studying, performing and teaching dance, she has experienced on a deep level the immense benefits that dance can have on a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Jessica is the President of the Dance Movement Therapy Association of Canada, a founding member of Dance Movement Therapy Ontario, and is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She offers educational and personal development workshops in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, runs group therapy programs with various organizations, and facilitates individual DMP sessions in private pratice.
