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How to Become a Dance Therapist – A Complete Guide to Dance Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy Certification



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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