Becoming a Dance Therapist

What Is a Dance Therapist?

A dance therapist is an individual who seeks to help people deal with psychological or emotional disorders through interpretive dance. This is based both on principles put forth by Sigmund Freud that problems affecting us that reside in our subconscious can be thrust into our conscious minds, and therefore resolved, by alternative means. This is coupled with a theory submitted by Marion Chace, the founder of dance therapy. She said that every person has an inherent need to express themselves physically, not just verbally. Dance is the key to that expression in which both mind and body focus as one. By this method, people who need therapy can be taught the basics of dance, and then their performance can be analyzed in hopes of it giving some clues as to the subconscious thoughts troubling them.

What Kind of Person Is Ideal for Being a Dance Therapist?

Someone who wants to become a dance therapist should have some qualities that aren't necessarily learned, as they are inherent. However, this does not mean that people without such qualities cannot persevere if becoming a dance therapist is a lifelong goal. A person wanting to become a dance therapist should ideally be physically fit and very flexible. He should have a great deal of familiarity with performing arts, dance and theater starting from a very young age. Physical awareness, knowing how the body moves and how one looks when one moves, is very important and not something easily learned. The therapist should be capable of caring and sympathizing with other people's problems without becoming emotionally attached. Being able to deal with people who are physically or mentally ill on a daily basis without becoming stressed or bothered is a must.

How Does One Become a Dance Therapist?

Becoming a dance therapist requires a great deal of college education. A good start would be a bachelor's degree in performance art or liberal arts. Minoring in psychology is very important, as the dance therapist must know the basics of the problems that their clients are dealing with. Unlike traditional psychologists and therapists, a prospective dance therapist would go through the American Dance Therapy Association rather than the American Psychological Association to find the best match for graduate work. A master's degree or doctorate in dance therapy is required to practice within the United States. Once the degree has been obtained, the prospective therapist must take a final exam hosted by the American Dance Therapy Association and join them as a full member. The association provides resources in finding mental health centers and treatment facilities where a dance therapist can work.

Resources

• Information from the American Dance Therapy Association