Dance Movement Therapist

The Dance Movement Therapist focuses on helping clients improve self-esteem and body image, develop effective communication skills and relationships, expand their movement vocabulary, gain insight into patterns of behavior, as well as create new options for coping with problems. It helps clients integrate the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of their lives through expressive movement.

Primary responsibilities

• Observe how clients move through different games, movement and breathing exercises, and improvisational dances.
• Exercises independent judgment, administers and interprets dance/movement therapy assessments, and utilizes clinical knowledge to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information.
• Plans, organizes and implements developmentally and situationally appropriate and evidence-based comprehensive dance/movement therapy interventions for children of all abilities, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team.
• Recommends and develops new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating children with complex medical or mental health issues.
• Participates in team meetings, as needed, including providing information on program development and progress, and conveying information regarding dance/movement therapy management of clients, particularly when engaging in telehealth.
• Evaluate and develop treatment plans for individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
• Run group or individual sessions designed to meet the individual needs of clients.
• Accurately document services to clients, progress, and development.

Minimum required education, experience & skills

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Music Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation preferred; Master’s Degree or higher in Occupational Therapy, Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, or Drama Therapy; or equivalent/related field.
• A minimum of 2 years’ prior experience working with children with developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge and experience with preventing and de-escalating aggressive behavior.
• Competency with physical limitations, ambulatory concerns, and accommodations necessary for accessible activities.