Dance / Movement Therapy

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.

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.

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.

In my dance/movement therapy work, I use body awareness and movement to help my clients get out of their heads and into their bodies as a whole, furthering the body/mind connection. Movement is our first language and it can express what may be too difficult to express with words alone. Overall, I am passionate about helping my clients expand their movement life (whatever way that may be) as a way of self expression, healing, and empowerment.

I am a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist with over 7 years of experience. Dance/Movement Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that incorporates the body and mind, which are interconnected. How we move affects how we think, feel, behave, and relate to others. Have you ever danced in your living room like no one was watching and felt really good after? We can channel the healing power of movement to go deeper, create new connections, and calm the nervous system.

I am trained in the art of yoga and meditation, as well as, mindfulness-based and cognitive based therapies, which I have found to be effective for clients who have experienced trauma, depression, and anxiety.

I earned a M.S. degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Pratt Institute. I specialize in Dance/Movement Therapy psycho-therapeutic interventions designed to assist with symptoms caused by trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, self-esteem & chemical dependency. Dance Movement Therapy incorporates both verbal and non-verbal techniques, providing variety to support self-expression & increase self-awareness.

Dance therapy is effective for several reasons. It combines physical movement with emotional expression, allowing individuals to access and release emotions that may be difficult to express verbally. Dancing activates the body-mind connection, promoting self-awareness and self-expression. The rhythmic movements, music, and creativity involved in dance can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase feelings of joy and vitality. Dance therapy also promotes physical health and flexibility.

Currently a student enrolled in Embodied Education Institute of Chicago’s hybrid Alternate Route Dance Movement Therapy Program since January 2023. DMT is subtly layered into therapy sessions as requested.

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.

I have my Masters in Dance/Movement therapy (DMT), trained to observe, assess and engage in movement practices that meet the client where they are at; helping them to become more aware and connected to their body in a way that feels healing and empowering.

Life is challenging, at best. For many, our bodies have become functional vessels to just carry us through our busy and often overwhelmed lives. Most people are not aware of how much our bodies reflect the challenges within and without. Women and girls especially are taught to disconnect from their bodies, often manifesting shame, low self esteem, and poor body image.Our bodies carry and hold our life stories from birth on.