Welcome to the life-changing world of Dance Therapy in the Community!
This may sound like an exaggeration - but learning to work with Dance Therapy in Community situations CAN be life-changing. This applies both to the practitioner in terms of unique 'job satisfaction', but even more importantly to the person or persons benefiting from their skills. Dance Therapy in community situations not only encourages patients and clients to get well and stay well, but also has a dramatic and long-lasting impact on their 'quality of life.' Dance Therapy leads to the creation of an entirely new set of thoughts, a more positive approach to self-understanding and solving one's problems and, more often than not, a radical change of direction, bringing peace and harmony where previously there was conflict and distress.
When people discover for themselves the world of creativity and the arts, what it has to offer and how quickly they can become part of that world, life can take on a whole new meaning. And because the Dance, described by Curt Sachs as the 'mother' of all the arts, embraces the whole of life and involves the whole of a person = body, mind and spirit - in its performance, its effectiveness when used as a form of therapy is universally recognised.
There is so much emotional and psychological pain all around us. Much of it, fortunately, is either preventable or treatable. But it is a question of knowing how to go about the problem. Freud and Jung both predicted that levels of this kind of suffering by the end of the last century would have become so difficult to manage that doctors, on their own would never be able to cope. Empathetic individuals from all walks of life would need to be asked to help - and for which appropriate training would be required. Among the most important of the groups coming forward have been those seeking to work with the arts as therapy.
About twenty years ago, the School of Dance Therapy took the decision to concentrate on non-psychiatric applications of dance and movement as therapy. This means dealing with situations in the community where patients and clients do not need psychiatric treatment as such - though their levels of emotional and psychological suffering can be just as great. The on-line Diploma courses which we offer have the principal aim of encouraging each student to use his or her own life experience and enthusiasm for dance, in order to begin designing effective programmes which can later be introduced in a range of situations - including care of the elderly, helping children and adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or who are mentally impaired. Equally Dance Therapy can be applied in everyday situations where there is some kind of deprivation – for example children at risk of poverty, in trouble with the law or who have been forced into care. It can also be used for as a form of ‘recreational therapy’ for adults needing a little extra support, helping them combat stress, stay well and preventing the onset of debilitating illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Currently the School are preparing a Sharing Dance with Others training programme, for young people willing to work with children who are at risk of poverty.
All our training courses are ON LINE - by far the most convenient method for busy people and offering the benefits of one-to-one tuition throughout. Supporting workshop and self-development programmes are available all round the year, in London, Wiltshire and Exeter, Devon. Nor does our promise to our students end once the Diploma is achieved. We are committed to helping you develop your career from the day you enrol until far into the future, as long as you need our support. Life-changing? All our Diploma holders agree that this is no exaggeration! We look forward to the privilege of working with you.