Dance / Movement Therapy

I integrate Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) as a pathway to self-discovery and emotional well-being. My approach merges cultural understanding, embodied healing, and evidence-based practices to help clients move beyond adversity and step into their full potential. Whether through therapy, coaching, or education, I am committed to guiding individuals toward thriving, not just surviving.

M.S Dance/Movement Psychotherapy with 10+ years of experience using the body as a resource for healing and recovery.

I received my degree in Dance/Movement Therapy. While the name can be a bit intimidating to some, I employ movement interventions in a client-focused manner and only when people want to use them. This can vary from identifying what emotions feel like in your body all the way up to doing things like punching pillows to process anger.

DMT is the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual, based on the empirically supported premise that the body, mind and spirit are interconnected. Movement is used as a catalyst, and a means into the person's inner feelings and a way to express, cope, interact with others, and integrate their experiences. Is it fancy? No! Movement&dance can be anything from breathing, posture, communicating, the way we hold ourselves.

You don't need to be a dancer to benefit from movement as a way to connect with your body’s wisdom, get in touch with your creativity, and support emotional healing. This is especially true for areas that don't improve with talk therapy alone.

I am an expert in dance movement therapy, a specialized form of therapy that uses movement and body awareness to promote emotional, physical, and cognitive healing. With a background in both psychology and the arts, I integrate the expressive power of movement with traditional therapeutic techniques to help clients process emotions, reduce stress, and enhance self-awareness. Dance movement therapy allows individuals to connect with their bodies in a nonverbal way.

This is a creative and somatic method that invites in body awareness as well as expressive movement. Movement signifies vitality, change, adaptability, and is the opposite of stuckness and stagnation. When we mindfully allow thoughts and emotions to move, we can ride the waves of life with grace.

Our bodies hold our stories - our thoughts, feelings, experiences and memories. It is through movement that we can express ourselves fully when our words cannot. The roots of dance as a healing practice are found deep within many cultures and have been throughout time. Dance therapy, a relatively new healing practice is based on the idea that the mind, body and spirit are connected. It unearths all types of movements held within the body in order to integrate the many layers of ourselves.

To quote a pioneer of the field : "Movement is a basic form of communication that provides us with opportunities for socialization, the development of community and the experience of expressing our aliveness and our innermost thoughts and feelings." - Nana Koch Your mind might know the feeling, but your body is the feeler. The body comes with you everywhere in life. It lives and embodies the life you live. It is time you honor and listen to it 🌼

I am a registered Dance/Movement therapist and also incorporate other expressive arts modalities into my work.

Tina holds a certificate of Circus Arts Therapy from the Circus Arts Institute. Modalities include Trapeze, Hammock and Lyra. She has trained and performed as a dancer-actor in ballet, modern, African Diaspora since the age of 4.

By delving into the intricate dance between thoughts, emotions, and actions, Dance/Movement Therapy harnesses the power of movement to help individuals express and process emotions. Integrating movement with therapeutic techniques, I offer a unique approach that goes beyond words, promoting self-discovery, emotional release, and enhanced well-being. Movement can lead your way to self-awareness, resilience, and positive change.

As a Dance/Movement Therapist I find that engaging in a movement practice can open us up to emotions that are deeply rooted in our subconscious. It can help to reconnect with our bodies and it invites us to find meaning without using words. This is a practice that welcomes all bodies and abilities. Dance experience is not required! Just an openness to the process.

The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) defines dance/movement therapy as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual. Dance/movement therapists focus on helping their 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.

In dance/movement therapy, I guide clients to explore emotions and experiences through movement, helping them connect mind and body. This creative approach fosters self-expression, releases stored tension, and builds awareness of how emotions manifest physically. Through guided movement and reflection, clients gain insights into their feelings, enhance emotional regulation, and build confidence. It’s a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and promoting overall well-being.