Education
Dance Movement therapists are trained at the graduate school level. The specific requirements for enrollment can be obtained from the individual school, but generally students have undergraduate schooling in the liberal arts with coursework in psychology. Those completing graduate studies obtain a master’s degree in dance/movement therapy or an equivalent title. Graduation from an approved school, which meets the standards of the American Dance Therapy Association, makes recipients eligible for the title of DTR (Dance Therapist Registered). The title of ADTR (Academy of Dance/Therapists Registered) can be obtained upon completion of a master’s degree, specific dance/therapy classes and supervised internships. Additional information can be obtained from The American Dance Therapy Association.

The title of DTR qualifies the therapist to work in a professional environment under supervision, while the title of ADTR indicates that the dance therapist has received additional training and may also provide supervision or be in private practice.

Official licensing bodies
Dance therapists can obtain psychological credentials and after passing a test can become registered by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.

References:
Boughton, Barbara. “Dance Therapy.” Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Available at www.findarticles.com

The C.G. Jung Page. Chodorow, Joan. “The Body as Symbol: Dance/Movement in Analysis.” Available at www.cgjungpage.org

Cohen SO, Walco GA. “Dance/Movement Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Cancer.” Cancer Practice. 7(1): 34-42,1999.

Couper JL. “Dance Therapy: Effects of Motor Performance of Children with Learning Disabilities.” Physical Therapy. 61(1) 23-6, 1981.

Goodison L, Schafer H. “Drug Addiction Therapy. A Dance to the Music of Time.” Health Service Journal. 109(5677) 28-9, October 21, 1999.

Hanna, JL. “The Power of Dance: Health and Healing.” Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1(4) 323-31, 1995.

Horowitz, S. “Healing in Motion: Dance Therapy Meets Diverse Needs.” Alternative & Complementary Therapies. 6(2) 72-6, 2000.

Palo-Bengtsson L, Winblad B, Ekman S. “Social Dancing: A Way to Support Intellectual, Emotional and Motor Functions in Persons with Dementia.” Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing. 5(6) 545-54, 1998.

Schoop, T. “Motion and Emotion.” American Journal of Dance Therapy. 22(2): 91-101, Fall/Winter 2000.

Shannon L. “Living Ritual Dance for Women: Journey Out of Ancient Times”. American Dance Therapy Association 27th Annual Conference Proceedings, Columbia, Maryland, October, 1992. Available at www.dance.demon.co.uk.

Content last modified on Sep 18, 2003