Dance movement psychotherapist
Help people deal with their emotional, psychological and physical issues. Guide them to use dance and movement to express their thoughts and feelings.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£673
Entry level
£827
Experienced
Monthly
£2,917
Entry level
£3,583
Experienced
Yearly
£35,000
Entry level
£43,000
Experienced
2,700
people are currently employed
Low growth
100 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would use dance to help people to deal with emotional, psychological and physical issues. You’d guide them to use dance and physical movement as a way to express their thoughts and feelings.
Dance movement psychotherapy is based on the belief that body movement reflects a person's pattern of thinking and feeling.
You would work with individuals and groups to:
Improve people’s self-esteem, self awareness and perception of body image
Improve their communication skills
Deepen their insight into their patterns of behaviour
Create coping strategies and find new ways to manage life
You would work with people who have a physical disability or a learning disability, or emotional or behavioural problems.
Your clients could also be experiencing mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. They might have problems with an addiction or eating disorder. Some of your clients may come to you for their personal growth.
You would:
Observe and assess the person’s movements
Plan individual or group movement sessions
Find suitable music
Create props for sessions
Create a safe environment to promote communication
Write reports and update client records
You would work closely with other professionals such as psychologists, social workers, teachers and other therapy specialists.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- mentoring
- time management
- developing a plan
- empathising
- researching
- creative
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- reflecting
Your skills are important
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Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Care
Dance
Drama
Human Biology
PE (Physical education)
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would need to complete a postgraduate qualification (SCQF Level 11) in Dance Movement Psychotherapy accredited by the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK).
To enter an accredited Master's you'll need:
A degree (SCQF Level 9/10) in a relevant subject such as dance, performing arts, psychology, sports psychology or nursing.
Two years continuous experience in dance or movement
One year's work experience helping people to overcome physical or mental health problems - this can be paid or voluntary
Once qualified, you would need to register as a member of the ADMP UK.
There are currently no accredited Master's courses in Scotland.
There are Masters level courses at the UK Dance Voice Therapy Centre, Bristol; Goldsmiths University, London; Roehampton University, London; and the University of Derby.
To enter a relevant degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of four Highers. Some universities ask for qualifications in one sitting.
Qualifications that show an understanding and experience in dance and psychology.
This could include relevant Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) as well as any course that is accredited by the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK).
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland for some jobs.
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