/ Short Courses /
Start date:
July 2025
Places:
Places are awarded on a 'first paid first serve' basis due to demand
Cost / delivery:
£745 / on-campus
5 days (21 – 25 July)
Combining dance and movement expression within a psychotherapeutic frame.
Experience an intensive five-session experiential class, and involves direct experiential learning about the Dance Movement Psychotherapy MA Programme at the University of Roehampton.
You will experiment through a range of non-verbal and verbal expressions—movement, gesture, words, play, rhythm, storytelling and ritual. The main focus is to explore ways of linking body awareness with emotional awareness.
Details
This course is ideal if you'd like to find out more about dance movement psychotherapy. It details how dance movement psychotherapists work in a variety of different settings.
It will be beneficial if you'd like to satisfy your curiosity, and if you're considering training as a dance movement psychotherapist to reflect on your motivations and skills.
You will be expected to engage in experiential and improvisational movement tasks and small group discussions. Comfortable clothing should be worn for dance movement practice.
You will gain an introduction to dance movement psychotherapy, specifically the integrative approach taught on the MA programme at the University of Roehampton.
It is useful if you're thinking of undertaking training as a subsequent career in dance movement psychotherapy and if you'd like to find out more about what is actually involved in practice. An electonic certificate of attendance will be emailed on completion of the course.
Tutors
Layla Smith
On-campus Tutor
Layla Smith originally trained as a dancer and now works as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist (RDMP MA) and Supervisor, Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) and Movement Teacher (DTLLS).
Currently she works in acute adult mental health in the NHS as a DMP and facilitates different DMP (Foundation and MA) workshops in higher education.
Alongside a small private practice she creates specialist individual or group Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and movement observation sessions for educational purposes, CPD and personal development.
Other DMP experience since 2006 includes: adult and child mental health, medically unexplained symptons, severe dementia, acute adult mental helath, learning disabilites, chronic depression, eating disordres and forensics.
Emily Hoffman
On-campus Tutor
Emily originally trained as a dancer in New York City and also completed a BA in Psychology. After several years as a professional dancer, Emily combined her two passions and trained as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist (MA, RDMP).
Emily originally trained as a dancer in New York City and also completed a BA in Psychology. After several years as a professional dancer, Emily combined her two passions and trained as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist (MA, RDMP). She has worked with movement, dance and as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist across 4 countries, including setting up a time limited DMP intervention at a trafficking shelter in Nepal. Emily currently works as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Supervisor in private practice, as well as with organisations within the Violence Against Women and Girls sector and the NHS, with a focus on trauma and its impact. Additional DMP experience includes work with neurodiverse children and young people, learning disabilities, acute adult mental health, long-term adult mental health rehabilitation, and adults with complex emotional needs.
Allison Singer
On-campus Tutor
Dr Allison Singer is a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, University Lecturer and Dance Anthropologist. She has worked with the creative arts in community and psychotherapeutic contexts for nearly 40 years.
Dr Allison Singer is a Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, University Lecturer and Dance Anthropologist. She has worked with the creative arts in community and psychotherapeutic contexts for nearly 40 years. Her clinical experience includes work with people who experience complex trauma, anxiety and depression, eating disorders, dementia, forced displacement, learning disabilities, physical disabilities. Allison has chapters in a number of edited collections and has presented her research at national and international conferences and symposia including the United Nations, Geneva. Her research focuses on dance and healing; arts in International Development; intermodal arts approaches to psychotherapy; and Anthropology and the Arts Psychotherapies. Allison has led and consulted on Creative Arts Therapy MA programmes in the UK and is currently a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Roehampton; and a Research Associate, University of York.
