Dance Therapy - Use Your Love of Dance to Help Others
Improving a person's mental health sometimes involves the use of dance movements. Dance therapy is an official form of therapy that's used to treat depression, anxiety, and additional mental illnesses, as well as supporting individuals’ overall wellbeing. Dance therapy uses movement to address both mental and physical health, helping individuals express emotions, improve body image or self-esteem, cope with stress and more.
Students who want to become a dance therapist not only love dance in general, but they also want to help others improve their mental health. A dance therapist does just that, as the job involves learning how to teach the movements that can assist others, while also knowing how therapeutic dance can be.
Where Do Dance Therapists Work?
Dance therapists find themselves working in a number of different places. Hospitals and clinics that have departments specializing in mental health and rehabilitation hire dance therapists to help their patients. In addition, nursing homes may have a dance therapist on staff to help the residents keep their spirits up and remain in good mental and physical health in their advanced age. Some dance therapists work on a freelance basis, while others have full-time jobs assisting others. It isn't unusual for a dance therapist to open up their own private practice as well.
Do You Have a Dance Background?
The first step to becoming a dance therapist is to have a solid background in dance. Most dance therapists have spent a majority of their lives taking classes and learning about the various forms of dance, from ballet to hip hop and more. The more that therapists know about dance, the better they can utilize a variety of movements in order to help their patients. This is why continuing one's dance studies in college is necessary for those who want to be a dance therapist.
Getting a Bachelor's Degree in Dance
Finding a school that not only offers a degree in Dance but also one with a course schedule that permits students to take classes in other disciplines, is the key to becoming a dance therapist. Not only do students need to learn more about the various forms of dance, including their histories, but they also need to know the basics of anatomy and kinesiology, as well as some information about psychology and psychotherapy. This sets the stage for the next part of their training.
Spending Time in Graduate School
Not only do dance therapists need to have a bachelor's degree, but they also must have a master's degree in dance therapy from a certified university. The American Dance Therapy Association, also known as the ADTA, keeps a list of these certified programs, all of which are offered at accredited colleges.
Students who want to go on and become dance therapists need to learn as much about dance and all of its various forms as possible. A Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance is the stepping stone to this amazing career path. !