Dance-Movement Therapy (DMT) for Children and Teens

Children of all ages can benefit from individual counselling and dance-movement therapy to gain support with life transitions and developmental challenges. Anna currently offers individual sessions for children, which typically last 45 to 60 minutes in length, depending on the attention span of the child.  She has experience working with children aged 0 to 19, including those with physical, emotional and mental developmental disabilities.

Benefits of Dance-Movement Therapy with Children:

• Improved social skills and bonding with parents, friends and schoolmates.
• Better ability to creatively problem solve and think through challenges.
• Better language and communication skills with peers and adults.
• Improved self-awareness and ability to express feelings.
• Increased impulse control.
• Learning how to self-regulate, calm down and relax.
• Increased self-esteem and confidence.
• Expanded motor skills and movement ability.
• A fun experience of therapy that is playful and creative, that kids look forward to!

Parents are involved in their child’s therapy on a case by case basis depending on age, development, reasons for therapy, and comfort level of both child and parent. A developmental history from birth is part of the assessment process in treatment planning.

Anna’s training in movement observation enables her to meet children “where they are”, recognizing and honouring their unique needs as expressed through their non-verbal communication. In Dance-Movement Therapy, the therapist creates relationship and expands a child’s communication skills by linking movement expressions to feelings and thoughts, integrating the physical and psychological aspects of a child’s growth.

You may realize that your child is struggling with making friends, with school learning, with knowing what he/she is feeling, or with optimal physical or mental development. His or her behavior at home or school may be affected. You may be seeking answers as to why your child is behaving in a certain way.

Dance-Movement Therapy, by looking holistically at the interconnection of physical, mental, social and emotional development, can often provide useful insight to parents, and can help parents to recognize the needs being met by their child’s often baffling behavior. Parents also gain increased awareness and understanding of their child’s movement patterns and what is being communicated through non-verbal behavior.

Phone Anna to schedule a consultation or appointment: 604.781.6040.