All About Session
Dance Movement Psychotherapy
What does the session look like?
We typically start with a verbal check-in. I ask you about your past week, any challenges you are facing and anything you may like to talk about.
I invite you to slowly transition to movement. I may lead a warmup, or you may know how you like to start moving your body. If you are self-conscious about moving, do not worry. Because it is not about HOW you move the body, but how your body feels and leads you. I consciously invite us to hold no judgements towards ourselves. We further explore various movements together or on your own, or based on a theme you like to work on, or just follow the present moment and its flow. We may use props such as fabrics, ribbons, balls, and objects. Sometimes sounds and voices may accompany us.
After movement, we sit down and reflect on bodily experience verbally. Drawing may be used to express your embodied experience before verbalising the embodied experience.
Please note that children's sessions may look differently. Go to the Therapy for Children section.
Why should I try dance movement psychotherapy?
Dance Movement Psychotherapy is a unique creative and embodied approach to process emotions and challenging past experiences. Some people come to me as they had 'enough' talking. Talking is one way to process life challenges, but processing through the body is another whole new journey!
DMP is a journey of connecting with your body and bodily sensations. In other words, it is to quieten our busy minds, and simply allowing us to listen to our bodies. By grounding our bodies and noticing breaths and bodily sensations, we begin to create movement. In a DMP session, it is a constant travel between somatic (physiological response), motoric (gestures, postures, movements), symbolic (play, images, dreams) and abstract (cognitive) communication (Greenspan, 1998, Lauffenburger, 2018).
DMP is different from any other somatic and body-based therapy because it leads us to creativity. Creativity will flourish when your body feels safe enough, or comfortable with it. Creativity involves playfulness. Play is an important concept in therapy too.
Duration of Session
60 minutes for adults, 45 minutes for children.
How do I know DMP is for me?
I know that engaging in therapy is a commitment and a big financial and emotional decision.
I invite you to come to my practice studio or meet me online to have an initial meeting with me. So that I can hear your needs, and reasons for therapy. You can experience how it may feel like to be with me in the therapy space, or try to move with me for a short period, and ask me any questions. Then we can discuss possibility of working together further including deciding if this is the right therapy for you or if I am the right therapist for you. After you decide to work with me, I request you to fill up an Intake Form.
You may initially try, for example, six sessions and decide if you would like to commit in a long-term therapy. I may recommend
Number of Sessions
As a psychotherapist, I work for a long-term with my clients while acknowledging the timeframe is dependent on their needs too. Psychotherapy is relational. Kohut, a self-psychology psychoanalyst says that therapy is a 'relational home' where clients find in a relationship with their therapist. And we know that relationships cannot be built over a short time! The psychotherapist supports you to understand yourself and create a space for you to discover inner strength in you. This means it takes longer than one may wish sometimes.
I believe therapy is not one-way that a therapist is doing something for clients, but clients also have a say of how they want the therapy to be shaped to meet their needs. We will review our progress occasionally and decide whether we will need to work together further.
Therapy is not forever, so there is always an ending. I believe that it is important for us to acknowledge the ending of our work together.
Space and Safety
I abide by the Ethics and Code of Conducts of DTAA and PACFA. The space is confidential and your privacy is protected. I attend clinical supervision regularly for a safe and ethical practice.
Sessions Offered at
In-Person
Coach House, 13 Laffers Road, Belair 5052
-
All day free parking available
-
Pinera Train Station (14 minute walk) or Glenalta Train Station (10 minute walk).
-
Bus routes 196 and 196F (2 minute walk)
Mobile Visits
-
School visit
-
Home visit or
-
sessions at a community space (e.g. church and community centre) near your house
Please note that travel fees may apply in case the therapist needs to travel to you.
Telehealth
I offer sessions online if that is appropriate for you and that is what you need.
Fees
Fees
-
For NDIS participants, please go to the NDIS section.
-
Concession available for limited spots
Rebate
I am the providers of the following private insurance companies.
-
Medibank
-
AHM
-
Bupa
-
ARHG (Emergency Services Health, See-u by HBF (Previously CUA), Nurses & Midwives Health, Police Health, St Luke's Health, Phoenix Health, Mildura Health, AIA Health Teachers Union Health, Westfund Teachers Health, GMHBA, Doctors Health, Uni health, HBF)
Registered Provider
I am an approved Blue Knot Foundation service provider. BKF specialises in supporting trauma survivors.
Cancellation
-
Within 48 hours cancellation, 50% of the fee will be charged.
-
Within 24 hours cancellation, 100% of the fee will be charged.
Get in touch
If you decided to try, please contact me via Contact page. I will ring you to speak to you for 15 minutes and discuss when to meet.