My path to Psychotherapy

I first found dance through drama, hence the choice of my joint-honours degree. Dance helped me deal with a lot of issues going on in my life and became my safe haven. From here, I learn that dance could be used as a form of counselling and it was not just me who took from this art form to build on my characteristics in daily life such as confidence.

I found Edge Hill University through the movement psychotherapy masters, wanting to remain in the same place for both degree and masters without needing to move location and masters. I had decided this was my pathway, my life plan; University for 3 years, masters for 2, then setting up my dance school as I work as a psychotherapist.

All of my ideas on movement psychotherapy would have been from what I imagined, experience through regular dance classes and anything I had read on the internet or prospectuses. At the end of my first year I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to volunteer with a charity that work in a field I wanted to enter into. Here I dealt with the admin side of the charity, learning how to document clients and some of the issues they were undergoing both physically and mentally. I had not realised the implications it had on the family members. I saw how my mum struggled when I was struggling but did not link it to every other support system. What I had read suddenly had a new meaning, and I could see how the facilities were helping and improving the lives of the individuals. I saw myself. I knew that it was an area I wanted to get involved in and took inspiration to offer these classes as free when I was able to start teaching.

Having just one dance class, is an hour that someone else is caring for an individual whilst they are benefitting physically and mentally. It is an hour of contact with, at first, a stranger. To me dance was the distraction from having to be social, and gave me a task forcing me to interact and communicate and before I knew it I was talking about subjects outside the session. From sitting behind a desk I could see the energy levels of the clients before entering and once finished, formatively assessing what they have taken away with them or left behind.

This year I have started shadowing the dance teacher, and found classes structured in a similar way to some that I have attended. Capacity is thought over the age of the individuals, and tasks are differentiated greatly to suit the needs to every individual. The aim is to work on yourself and not try to morph into a chorus. What shocked me on my first viewing was the time it took to get through a task when the class were not as focused, but once a task was known the group were eager and remembered well what was asked of them. In my weeks of shadowing I have seen how one participant may have contrasting behaviour the next week. I am still learning the individual needs of each participant and how to adapt to suit contrasting needs in the class.

A technique I had not fully come across was relaxation at the end of a movement session. I had once received a relaxation tape, which was to help soothe me through the night. It was a tool I chose not to use due to the “calming” situation given to me in the tape. In the classes I shadow now, the context determined how the class would arrange themselves. For example, if a session was on animals then the relaxation session is based around the watering hole, with the yoga mats around the perimeter. To me this is more effective than the one tape I took home as the context changes each week and goes off the session. Props are used such as blankets, and lavender-scented eye pillows to help get into one’s personal sphere. By relaxing out of your home, it strengthens the skill in a safe environment with the space holding no other memories or meanings than that of dancing. I feel if I was introduced to the tapes out of my household then they could have benefited my healing process. Relaxation has more benefits that I first thought. There is a major difference between "putting your feet up" and doing a relaxation exercise. When there is anxiety in a person their body will hold onto tension, which when in a new situation causes the body to naturally react out of panic instead of calm and rationally. Stress and tension can make a seemingly harmless situation one for cause and worry, thus disrupting the healing process.

I got so excited to see this new tool, once home researched as many as I could and started writing my own. There are clear patterns in moving in and out of the calm state, such as re-engaging your body through holding onto and releasing tension, and focusing on breath. The first script I wrote was on a campfire. I am hoping that practising and reading now, once at Masters level will aid me into a course and help the set up and practical application in the classes I wish to teach.

When I started dance classes at 15, I did not expect to a) enjoy them, b) find a career in the arts or c) be looking at helping through an art form.

Art and sport therapies are becoming more popular and accepted currently, with more practices being set up and courses. They are now given as an option through some NHS hospitals or as a private practice. Do not be afraid to try different routes to deal with any issues in life, I have and benefited greatly. I am forever in debt to dance for how it helped me in everyday life.

What I love is how there are now a wider range of means to access should anyone need any extra support. Movement and dance may not be for everyone but it is a chance to try.