MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy

This programme provides you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of dance movement therapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work, and enables you to practise as a dance movement psychotherapist.

• Your learning will be underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy within the social, political and multicultural context of mental health care and educational settings. Study is informed by contemporary dance practice, Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and somatic bodywork.

• Through theoretical studies, movement observation studies, dance practice workshops, clinical work and experiential learning, you integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and other.

• The MA aims to enhance your self-knowledge and interpersonal relationships and to promote your psychodynamic understanding of individuals, groups and society – working with questions of difference, equality and diversity.

• The nature of the therapeutic relationship is explored in depth through movement and dance and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through at least 90 days of supervised placements. This gives you the opportunity to relate your practical experience to your theoretical studies.

• You'll be encouraged to develop your own dance/movement practice and to situate your work in relation to your development as a therapist, to contemporary dance and movement practice. You're required to be in personal therapy throughout the programme (please note that this is at your own cost).

• On graduation you are eligible to become a registered professional member of the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Admissions Tutor, Dr Caroline Frizell or the Programme Convenor, Dr Marina Rova.

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) the following qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a relevant/related subject – or, if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level
• A minimum of two years' experience in dance and/or movement forms
• At least 200 hours of experience of paid or voluntary work in health, social, education or community services

Please note: you must also fulfil our fitness to train requirements.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate study.

Examples of places and areas that our MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy graduates are currently working in include:

• Mainstream, special and therapeutic schools
• Pupil referral units
• Organisations for adoption and fostering
• Not-for-profit organisations relating to children and adults
• Drugs intervention team
• Addictions service
• Dance for Parkinsons
• Prisons
• Community, creative and therapeutic dance for children and adults
• Dance therapy and mindfulness-based approaches
• Honorary Dance Movement Psychotherapist contract – NHS Trust
• Sessional Dance Movement Psychotherapy work for C.I.C ‘Dance and Dementia’
• Creative Therapist, NHS Foundation Trust, CAMHS Specialist Intervention Team
• Lecturing (eg UEL on the use of the body in the counselling/therapy relationship)
• PhD study

Skills

Key employability skills developed on the course include:

• Personal development planning
• Creativity
• Initiative
• Adaptability
• Reflective processes
• Tolerance for stress
• Practical and Professional elements
• Listening
• Interpersonal sensitivity
• Organisational sensitivity
• Questioning
• Teamwork
• Written communication