My Services
01.
Working in a one-to-one therapeutic relational process with the therapist. To understand your feelings and behaviours, to reduce tensions, increase your self-awareness and self-esteem, to gain physical and emotional control. Sessions can vary in themes.
Sessions are between client and a therapist only. Held in a safe and held environment.
Sessions last between 30 mins - 1 hour.
02.
Working within a group of individuals/peers, exploring any individual or group themes that emerge throughout the sessions. Exploring any challenging emotions or feelings in a safe space. Developing your strengths and increasing self-esteem with group support. Sessions can vary in themes.
Sessions are min 4 people (average 6) no more than 10 people (including support staff/carers).
Held in a safe and held environment. Sessions last between 30 mins - 1 hour.
This is an example of a general structure of a Movement Psychotherapy Sessions
Warm-up
During the warm-up we will have a verbal check-in, encouraging you to gently warm up your body. We will focus on how you feel in the present moment and may find areas of emotional or physical tension or relaxation. The warm-ups are held and guided by me but open for you to lead in how you are feeling and what you would like to bring to the session.
Release
During the release section, you will be encouraged to move your body freely, perhaps experiencing insight into how you choose to move in a learned unconscious pattern. This can give you more insight into how your movement patterns influence your everyday emotions, behaviours, and relationships.
Theme development
Themes can be referred to as patterns that arise during the sessions, this can be through body movements or verbal communication. These themes may be found through reaching, stretching, releasing, rhythms, sharing movement with the therapist or group, your space and direction, your impulses, your motivation, and your preferences, amongst many different things. The themes can then be linked to patterns in your life that can then be released and reframes.
An example,
You find that you often feel that people sit or approach too close for your comfort. A Dance Movement Psychotherapist may help you to explore this through movement, looking at your preferences for kinaesthetic boundaries and where and when you feel that the person causes feeling and thoughts of threat.
Space is something that is learned during childhood, when you also develop a sense of who you are, exploring your ideas of spatiality may reveal a need for more attention, a sense of insecurity around others, or something else individual to you. It may reveal moments in your life that you felt you were not allowed space or given too much space.
Centering and grounding
Centering involves being present and in the ‘here and now’ and bringing your awareness to your body. Through grounding, it can bring a sense of security and awareness from which you can explore the themes that have arisen for you in greater depth. This can involve looking at memories and current difficulties.
Closure
The closure is a thoughtful way to wrap up/close the session. The sessions will end by coming together with the therapist (and/or the group) to share your experience of the session and reflect in whichever way that you want, either through movement, words or drawing.
Ethical guidelines, Code of Practice and Confidentiality
I am registered with The Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK). I, therefore, adhere to the ADMP UK ethical guidelines and code of practice. All relevant information can be found on the ADMP UK website.
I am a member of the Psychologists Protection Society.
I hold a current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate for working with vulnerable children and adults.
I also complete ongoing personal and professional development to update my skill base.
Each session is held in a confidential space for you to freely express and explore your feelings and thoughts. I will not share your information with anyone else except in the following circumstances:
a) With my clinical supervisor who is bound by the same code of ethics as myself.
b) If I believe you are a risk to yourself and/or to others, I reserve the right to break confidentiality to an appropriate agency or organisation (for example GP, police or social services) in order to prevent harm. However, I would always try to discuss with you before taking any action.
c) If I am required by a court of law to give evidence.
These matters will be discussed thoroughly in the initial assessments.