Choosing the best dance therapy course necessitates familiarizing yourself with the various options, researching local credentialing requirements, and possibly deciding on a dance therapy specialty. Courses in dance technique, assessment of bodily movements, ethics, psychopathology, counseling methods, and supervised fieldwork are common in dance therapy programs. Dance therapy courses that specialize in assisting people of specific age groups, developmental disabilities, or cultural backgrounds may also play a role in course selection. Before you choose a course, you should research local requirements for becoming a licensed mental health professional and dance therapist.
Dance therapy programs typically include courses in psychological assessment, counseling, and creative arts therapy to prepare aspiring dance therapists. By strengthening mental health assessment skills, counseling techniques, and dance skills, the right dance therapy course supports the dance therapy student’s overall goals. The best dance therapy courses for a student who has never danced before might focus on dance technique or improvisation. A strong dancer who is new to the field of mental health therapy might focus on courses that cover body language interpretation, psychological diagnosis, and counseling techniques.
A dance therapy specialization is also something to think about before enrolling in a dance therapy program. Working with young children, for example, necessitates a thorough understanding of their developmental requirements as well as effective dance therapy exercises and counseling techniques. Individuals with disabilities have unique requirements, necessitating the services of qualified dance therapists who have completed relevant training and know how to tailor therapy sessions to their specific needs. You might choose dance therapy courses that address cultural interpretations of movement or cultural taboos if you want to work with adults from specific cultural backgrounds. Taking courses from instructors with extensive experience in that specialty area is critical in almost all cases for gaining exposure to the most relevant issues and effective counseling techniques.
Researching credentialing requirements is also important when choosing a course. Dance therapy is a type of mental health counseling that requires special licensing in order to treat patients. A national certifying organization, for example, might demand a certain number of dance or counseling courses. In order to select courses that meet the necessary requirements, local licensing standards must also be considered. Investigating these requirements may lead you to choose a specific dance therapy program, study courses that can help you pass licensing exams, and/or enroll in dance therapy internships or guided fieldwork.