How to Become a Dance Therapist – A Complete Guide to Dance Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy Certification
- neuroscienceofdance
- May 6
- 5 min read
If you’ve ever felt the power of movement to communicate, express, or release, you’re already connected to the essence of dance therapy. This growing field uses structured movement as a powerful tool for supporting mental, emotional, and neurobiological transformation. Paired with dance movement therapy approaches rooted in somatic and psychological frameworks, it offers a science-informed path for those seeking to help others through movement-based.
Enroll in our Integrated Dance Therapy Course - This course has all the foundations that will prepare you to start your path:
What Is Dance Therapy (And What It’s Not)?
While dance therapy and dance movement therapy are sometimes used interchangeably, they have distinct roots. Dance movement therapy refers to the therapeutic use of dance and movement in clinical or psychotherapeutic settings, typically involving credentialed therapists.
Dance therapy draws on the connection between body and mind, using purposeful movement to help individuals process emotions, reduce stress, improve body awareness, and foster social connection. It can be beneficial for people of all ages and backgrounds and is often used in contexts such as mental health treatment, rehabilitation, trauma recovery, and personal growth.
Step-by-Step to Dance Movement Therapy Certification:
1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent)
Preferred fields: Dance, Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
Why: Establishes foundational knowledge in movement, human development, and mental health
2. Gain Dance Experience
Minimum of 300+ hours of formal dance/movement experience recommended
Includes: modern, ballet, improvisation, somatics, or cultural dance forms
Should include both technical and expressive movement training
3. Earn a Master’s Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy
Choose an ADTA-approved program (or equivalent if outside U.S.)
Example institutions: Drexel University, Naropa University, Columbia College Chicago
Coursework typically includes:
DMT theory & methods
Movement observation (e.g., Laban Movement Analysis)
Psychology, psychopathology
Ethics
Group process
Clinical supervision
4. Complete Clinical Internship
Total of 700+ hours of supervised clinical training
Settings may include hospitals, psychiatric clinics, schools, rehab centers
Supervision must be conducted by a BC-DMT (Board Certified DMT)
5. Apply for R-DMT (Registered Dance/Movement Therapist)
Submit all transcripts, documentation, and internship records to the regulatory association in your country.
Once approved, you are eligible to practice under supervision
6. (Optional/Advanced) Gain BC-DMT Credential
Requires:
At least 3,640 hours of DMT work post-R-DMT
48 hours of supervision
Case study submission and review
BC-DMT allows for independent practice and supervision of others
Other Notes:
Licensure as a mental health counselor or psychotherapist may also be required depending on your state/country
Continuous professional development is expected
Step-by-Step to Dance Therapy Certification:
Creative arts & community-based, often broader, less standardized, and varies by country)
1. Obtain Relevant Foundational Education
No universal requirement, but a Bachelor’s in Dance, Education, Psychology, or Social Work is often helpful
Alternative: Strong dance/movement experience combined with arts or human service background
2. Formal Dance Training or Community Practice
Strong emphasis on expressive, improvisational, or cultural dance forms
May include work in:
Community dance projects
Healing movement workshops
Educational dance settings
3. Complete Dance Therapy Training Program
Choose a dance therapy or expressive arts therapy training institutes
Program elements often include:
Somatic practices
Movement-based facilitation
Embodiment and creativity
Ethics and trauma sensitivity
Group leadership
4. Participate in Supervised Practice
Usually includes practicums or apprenticeships with experienced facilitators
May range from 100 to 500 hours, depending on the program
5. Certification or Membership
Some organizations offer certification, others offer membership-based recognition
6. Continuing Development
Attend workshops, seminars, or advanced certifications
Stay informed on cultural competence, inclusivity, and trauma-informed practice
Aspect | Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) | Dance Therapy (Community-based) |
Recognition | Clinically regulated (e.g., via ADTA) | Often non-regulated or semi-formal |
Education Level | Master's degree required | Varies: certificates, workshops, trainings |
Credential Example | R-DMT, BC-DMT | Tamalpa Practitioner, ISMETA Registration |
Focus | Clinical/psychotherapeutic work | Creative expression, healing, education, wellness |
Work Settings | Hospitals, clinics, mental health | Community centers, arts programs, private groups |
Key Skills & Backgrounds Needed for Dance Therapy
Skill / Background | Relevance to the Field |
Formal dance training and creative movement experience | Provides expressive tools for improvisation, storytelling, and symbolic movement used in therapeutic or healing contexts |
Dance therapy education or training | Offers theoretical grounding and practical application for using dance as a healing or developmental medium |
Somatic awareness and body-mind connection | Supports deeper self-expression, regulation, and embodiment during dance-based sessions |
Psychological and emotional insight | Enhances the ability to understand client needs, trauma responses, and emotional expression through movement |
Communication and facilitation skills | Enables effective guidance, group leadership, and emotional support during sessions |
Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity | Ensures respect for diverse movement traditions, identities, and meanings of dance across cultures |
Improvisation and creative expression skills | Encourages freedom, play, and spontaneous movement, which are central to many dance therapy models |
Experience in community or educational settings | Useful for outreach, inclusion, and therapeutic dance in schools, prisons, shelters, or wellness spaces |
Reflective and ethical practice | Ensures safe, respectful, and intentional therapeutic environments |
Basic knowledge of anatomy or movement analysis | Supports safe physical engagement and better understanding of individual movement habits and capabilities |
Key Skills & Backgrounds Needed for Dance Movement Therapy (DMT)
Skill / Background | Relevance to the Field |
Formal dance training and movement experience | Develops body awareness, movement vocabulary, and the ability to use dance as a therapeutic tool |
Clinical psychology or mental health knowledge | Provides understanding of emotional and psychological conditions and supports therapeutic intervention |
Dance/Movement Therapy education | Equips the therapist with theory, methodology, and application of DMT principles in clinical settings |
Body-mind integration and somatic awareness | Supports holistic assessment of clients and promotes healing through movement and self-awareness |
Movement observation and assessment skills | Enables analysis of nonverbal behavior and body language, essential for tailoring therapeutic interventions |
Supervised clinical practice | Builds practical experience, confidence, and professional readiness under guidance from certified practitioners |
Ethical and professional practice | Ensures responsible, culturally sensitive, and client-centered therapeutic work |
Interdisciplinary knowledge (e.g., neuroscience, trauma studies) | Enhances the therapist’s ability to address complex client needs using integrated approaches |
Group facilitation and communication skills | Crucial for managing therapy sessions, especially in group or community settings |
Empathy, emotional resilience, and patience | Supports trust-building and effective emotional support during therapeutic processes |
Where Dance Therapists Work
Dance therapists find opportunities in:
Hospitals and clinical health environments
Mental health clinics
Special education and neurodivergent support programs
Private practices and creative arts collectives
Community wellness spaces
Post-pandemic, movement and dance therapy has gained recognition as an embodied method of reconnection.
How to Start Your Journey (Even Before Enrolling in a Program)
If you’re feeling the call, you don’t have to wait.
Start here:
Enroll in our Integrated Dance Therapy Course - This course has all the foundations that will prepare you to start your path: https://www.neuroscienceofdance.co/product-page/integrated-dance-therapy-course
Begin a movement journaling practice
Look for dance therapy near me workshops
How You Can Support Others Without Certification (Yet)
Even without formal credentials, you can still be part of this. Our Integrated Dance Therapy Course equips you with tools to:
Understand the psychology and neuroscience of Dance Therapy
Experience it through tailored exercises
Co-create movement spaces centered on neurodivergence, grief, or connection
Integrate dance physical therapy principles into fitness, education, and personal and professional practice.
Free resource: Download the "Dance Therapy Starter Kit" including:
Guided reflection prompts
Certification pathways overview
Exercises
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