CATS 609 GA 2241 (Summer 2024)

CATS 609/GA (Summer 2024): INTRO. DANCE/MOV. THERAPY

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides an introduction to the foundations and primary concepts of Dance Movement Therapy and explores their relevance and applications to other creative arts therapies modalities through experiential, somatic and theoretical approaches.

Course objectives: The course serves to recognize and understand the importance of Dance Movement Therapy and movement observation in therapeutic and educational perspectives. It provides support to the integration of this material into the study and application of the Creative Arts Therapies and develops the theoretical foundations of dance/movement therapy towards depth exploration of treatment. It will focus on professional development of students for competency in a variety of settings. Dance/movement therapy work with both individuals and groups will be explored.

GOALS:

1. To introduce students to the foundations, essence, principles, and tools of Dance Movement Therapy and to understanding and using movement and non-verbal expression in therapy.

2. To explore and understand kinesthetic empathy, non-verbal communication, attunement and developmental constructs of movement in the therapeutic process.

3. To develop skills in the observation, understanding, and description of movement qualities and to work with basic concepts of Laban Movement Analysis and the elements of space, time, force and flow. This work helps to develop and enlarge the range of ones’ (movement) options and facilitates the understanding of others; to better understand one’s own movement patterns, and the patterns of our clients.

4. To examine and experience the healing properties of Dance/Movement Therapy and the potential of incorporating movement into the therapeutic process as we address and explore non- verbal action, interaction and behaviour.

5. To acknowledge, observe, and explore the neurobiology of the body-mind connection.

6. To look at movement’s role in assessment and evaluation.

7. To understand movement as an expressive and communicative principle with visual arts, writing and music to reinforce the therapeutic experience.