Dance movement psychotherapist jobs

THE WORK AND ALL THAT IS INVOLVED IN IT

Through the use of movement and dance, dance movement therapists (also known as DMTs) provide assistance to individuals in addressing a broad variety of mental, social, psychological, and physical concerns.

As a DMT, one of your primary responsibilities would be to work with clients to facilitate the expression of their emotions, the development of social confidence, and an increase in bodily awareness. Your day-to-day job would consist of analyzing the movement patterns of your clients, preparing individual treatment sessions for each client (which would include modifying their movement patterns), and cultivating an atmosphere that is conducive to open and honest dialogue.

You would interact with individuals of varying ages, both one-on-one and in small groups. Your customers will come to you for a number of reasons, including the following, for instance:

in order to boost their self-esteem, increase their self-awareness, and alter their view of what their body looks like.

in order to improve one's ability to communicate effectively.

to have a deeper understanding of the patterns of their behavior.

to develop new coping mechanisms and methods for effectively managing their life.

The concept that a person's pattern of thinking and emotion may be discerned from their movement serves as the foundation for this kind of treatment. There is a possibility that some of your clients may utilize therapy sessions only for the purpose of furthering their own personal development. On the other hand, you could also deal with individuals who are recovering from abuse or trauma, as well as those who live with the challenges associated with eating disorders, autism, or significant emotional issues.

You could be able to find employment in a range of settings, such as schools, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, or even private practice. The labor may put a strain not just on your body but also on your emotions.

Your typical workday would begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm, and it would be Monday through Friday. There is a possibility that you may sometimes be required to cover weekends and nights. There are a significant number of therapists that operate on a sessional basis since there are relatively few full-time jobs in the field.

DMTs might potentially earn between £20,000 and £30,000 per year.

Senior therapists who are employed by the NHS may receive a salary that ranges from £39,000 to £46,000 per year.

Therapists who are self-employed or work on a sessional basis may set their hourly rate anywhere between £25 and £50.

HOW TO BEGIN THIS OPTION FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER

You may find employment opportunities in a wide variety of public and non-profit organizations, such as hospitals, care homes, schools for children with special needs, correctional facilities, and youth correctional facilities.

It is possible that the connections you acquired during your postgraduate clinical placement may be able to assist you in finding your first paid position once you have graduated.

EDUCATIONAL AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Before you can begin working as a Dance Movement Therapist, you will be required to get a postgraduate degree that is approved by the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapists of the United Kingdom (ADMPUK) (DMT).

You will need a bachelor's degree or another professional certification that is equal to it in order to enroll in a postgraduate program. Some examples of appropriate majors are dance, performing arts, psychology, medicine, or nursing. Check with the people who provide the course to find out the specific entrance requirements. If you have a significant amount of expertise in the appropriate field, you could also be considered.

In addition to that, you will often require:

about two years' worth of related job experience, whether paid or unpaid, such as directing a creative or movement group, is required.

a foundation in at least one kind of dance or movement, as well as some experience in a number of other types.

The skill of improvising and using movement as a means of relating to and communicating with others.

Check the website of the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapists for a list of recognized courses and information on alternate admission options.

You will spend time in class learning about things like anatomy, psychology, psychotherapy, and movement observation, among other topics. Throughout the course of the program, you will also participate in individual treatment. Completing a course typically takes at least two years and requires a minimum of 200 hours of direct client interaction in addition to 100 hours of clinical supervision.

A HANDFUL MORE TESTS MAY BE REQUIRED OF YOU.

After you have established yourself in the field of dance movement therapy, you will have the opportunity to seek other research possibilities, broaden your clinical experience, and proceed with your own personal treatment.

You have the option of continuing your education and working for the title of Senior Registered Dance Movement Therapist (Senior RDMT). You would then be able to work in private practice, teach DMT, give clinical supervision to colleagues with less expertise, and function as a consultant if you did all of these things.

Throughout the whole of your career, you will be required to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the most recent findings in dance and movement therapy research, theory, and practice. Additionally, the ADMPUK will anticipate that you will participate in continuous professional development (CPD) activities for around twenty-four hours per year. You may get more information about available positions on their website.

The ADMPUK submitted a request to the Health Professions Council (HPC) for the DMT industry to be subject to legislative regulation. The HPC has suggested that the Department of Health take this particular course of action. At this point, it is unknown how or if this will have an effect on the teaching and training of DMTs. If you want extra information, visit the websites of the HCPC and the ADMPUK. SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES NEEDED

A dance movement therapist must have the following:

imagination and creative ability are two essential qualities.

At least one kind of dance or other forms of movement under your belt.

the capacity to invigorate and encourage one's customers.

emotional resilience and stability are necessary for working with individuals who are struggling with their mental or physical health.

Exceptional communication abilities, as well as the capacity to pay attention.

Maintaining a healthy degree of physical fitness.

a fascination with the arts, health, and alternative and complementary forms of treatment.

Excellent skills of observation and perception.

a familiarity with psychological, anatomical, and physiological concepts.