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Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, cultural and physical wellbeing.

It is a holistic, evidence based therapeutic approach that draws from the fields of psychology, anatomy, movement dynamics, improvisation, creative practice and psychotherapy and supports people to grow, change and heal.

Our course begins with Module 1: ‘Intro to DMT’ in October/November each year. There are two pathways to entry into our course, for more information see our ‘Training: Diploma DMT Overview’ page. 

You know the endorphin rush you can get when you move your body? The feeling of social connection when you dance with others you feel safe with? Perhaps you know how it feels to be truly seen and accepted with empathy and compassion? DMT combines these powerful experiences to support people to grow, change and heal.

Someone who has completed at least a 2 year training in DMT that includes clinical knowledge such as assessment, ethics, working with risks and confidentiality. DMTs practice in many different ways – from community based group work to individual psychotherapeutic private practice.

Dance therapists use tools such as mirroring (moving with a person with similar movements and emotional expression) and attunement (‘matching’ a person’s energy while they are moving in a way that is different to mirroring) in order to communicate body based empathy, facilitate the experience of being seen and to build a safe therapeutic relationship.

Therapeutic dance classes can have many positive benefits – release, self expression, connecting to others. In DMT, these benefits take place in a safe container where we also attend to boundaries, the client-therapist relationship, ethics, and DMT usually involves more verbal processing of movement experiences in order to integrate them and learn from them.

Each week, we estimate that the students will be engaged in approximately 4-6 hours of work for readings, assignments, placement and supervision.

This includes optional attendance at Simulated Practicums for 2 hours, 6x/year as another opportunity to experience DMT and develop leading skills in a supported environment.

Yes - with our support and guidance. We have a dedicated placement coordinator who will work with you and support you to find an appropriate placement/s. We also have a process/guideline and the necessary paperwork/documents to support you as you liaise with a potential placement contact.

While we try to keep costs as low as possible and all inclusive in our programme fees there may be associated costs where a student misses workshops, more than one tutorial or requires a placement extension. These are:

Missing a seminar/part of a seminar:
A fee is payable to cover additional costs of makeup assignment setting, marking and administration (fee depends on how many workshops are missed).

Missing more than one supervision tutorial:
A fee is payable if a student misses more than one supervision tutorial, this covers the cost of a tutor providing a 1:1 supervision tutorial make-up session.

Personal therapy hours:
As part of the course requirements, you are also required to participate in 10 hours of personal therapy/therapeutic dance each year. The diploma will try to link you with subsidised sessions to achieve this however there may be costs incurred to achieve this requirement.

Year Two Placement extensions:
If placement hours are not completed by December of Year Two, a placement hour extension is offered of up to six months with admin and supervision fees payable for client contact hours and/or personal therapy hours extensions.

DTAA Student Membership fee (optional):
We strongly encourage students to join the DTAA (Dance Therapy Association of Australasia) as a student member. This is the professional body that both registers and represents the profession of DMT in Australasia and gives students a welcome package, member discounts for professional development events, regular newsletters and networking and seminars held for student members. The student membership fee is around $55AUD/year.

1. Attend Module 1 (Into to DMT workshop).

2. Attend Module 2-6 (missed workshops can be made up with a trainer at an additional fee).

3. Attend at least 5 of the 8 supervision tutorials.

4. Submit 6 assignments.

5. Complete 60 placement hours (30 client, 20 non-client, 10 personal therapy).

6. In order to receive a Certificate in DMT and/or progress to Year Two, supervisors & trainers must be satisfied with a trainee's developing professional conduct, ensuring they exhibit ethical behavior, adhere to professional standards and demonstrate competence in their practice appropriate for their level.

1. Attend 10 seminars (9 online plus one 4-day intensive in Auckland. Missed workshops can be made up with a Trainer at an additional fee.

2. Attend at least 9 of 10 group supervision sessions.

3. Submit 7 assignments

4. Complete 140 placement hours (80 leading clients, 50 non-client, 10 personal therapy)

5. In order to receive a Diploma in DMT, supervisors & trainers must be satisfied with a trainee's developing professional conduct, ensuring they exhibit ethical behavior, adhere to professional standards and demonstrate competence in their practice.