The program typically takes two and one-half to three years to complete.  The initial fall semester is seen as a transition and joining time for students while they become introduced to the field, to each other, and to the Antioch community.  During the first year of the program students take core dance/movement therapy courses and basic counseling courses (both online and face-to-face), as well as practica in dance/movement therapy.  Students take a number of common core departmental courses online (including courses in ethics, psychopathology, human development, diversity, and research methods). During the second year, students take advanced dance/movement therapy courses, counseling courses and a counseling practicum/internship.  They can take three elective credits in the Spring of their second year (we recommend students take the Career & Lifestyle Development course).

Students begin their dance/movement therapy internship during the fall semester of their third year.  The DMT internship is a supervised six- to nine-month internship (minimum 700 hours) in a clinical setting in keeping with ADTA standards.

Post-Master’s Certificate of Respecialization in Dance/Movement Therapy

A Post-Master’s Certificate of Respecialization in Dance/Movement Therapy is offered for those individuals who already have a master’s degree in the field of mental health and a background in dance. This program is designed to provide the bulk of requirements needed for applying to the American Dance Therapy Association for the R-DMT credential.

The 32-credit Certificate Program is completed over two academic years (fall and spring semesters only). In the first year, students take core classes and participate in two practica. During their second year, students take advanced dance/movement therapy courses.

Sequence of Study

A Post-Masters Certificate of Respecialization in Dance/Movement Therapy is offered for those who already have a Masters degree in counseling or a related field and a background in dance.  Students acquire the bulk of requirements needed for applying to the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) for the R-DMT credential.

The 32-credit Certificate Program is completed over two academic years (Fall and Spring semesters only).  In the first year, students take core classes and practica in dance/movement therapy.  During their second year, students take advanced dance/ movement therapy courses.

Alternate Route Drama Therapy Training

Antioch University New England is pleased to offer Alternate Route Drama Therapy training, following National Association for Drama Therapy (NADT) Alternative Training guidelines, for students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling. Students may now acquire from AUNE up to 84% of credits required for NADT Alternative Training toward certification as a registered drama therapist. They may utilize internship hours from their second and third year Antioch internships toward drama therapy internship hours.

Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. Drama therapy is active and experiential.

What is Drama Therapy?

Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. Drama therapy is active and experiential. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis.

Through drama, the depth and breadth of inner experience can be actively explored and interpersonal relationship skills can be enhanced. Participants can expand their repertoire of dramatic roles to find that their own life roles have been strengthened. Behavior change, skill-building, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth can be achieved through drama therapy in prevention, intervention, and treatment settings. The theoretical foundation of drama therapy lies in drama, theater, psychology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and interactive and creative processes.

Who should apply?

Any potential student who has a passion for theater, a background in performance, technical, or management aspects of theater is a good match for this program. If you are trying to decide between training in dance/movement therapy or drama therapy, you can achieve both goals by attending this program.

What are the pre-requisites? Any student with a desire to integrate theater, movement, and personal growth in their career is eligible. For registry as a drama therapist, the following basic criteria must be met:

• A master’s degree in an academic area related to drama therapy (this requirement is met by the MA in dance/movement therapy from Antioch)
• 800 hours of internship, divided between two populations
• 500 hours of professional theater training and experience (university, community, and professional theater hours count)
• 1000 hours of paid drama therapy experience

Attending the Antioch University New England MA Program in Dance/Movement Therapy, with mentorship by the Drama Therapy advisor, fulfills most of the credits required. Antioch will offer special intensives that students may attend to attain the additional required credits and will maintain an active list of regional and national workshops that students may attend for credit.

What is Alternative Training?

The Alternative Training Program was created to provide a means for individuals outside the NADT-approved graduate programs in drama therapy to satisfy the educational requirements for the RDT (Registered Drama Therapist). Basic eligibility requirements and additional training/work experience still must be met. Alternative training permits individuals to creatively design an individualized learning program that credits related work experience and training opportunities. This training is offered through accredited academic institutions, institutes, and conferences and workshops run by RDT/BCTs [Board Certified Trainer]. Additional hours may also be earned through clinical supervision by a licensed and knowledgeable supervisor or physician and/or registered creative arts or mental health/special education professional. Alternative training hours must be earned with more than one RDT/BCT and supervised by at least two different RDTs (or an RDT and a licensed professional in the field.)

How can I learn more about drama therapy?

You may email Kim Burden, Drama Therapy advisor or write, call or email the National Association for Drama Therapy:

NADT
15 Post Side Lane
Pittsford, NY 14534
Email for general questions: answers@nadt.org
Email the office: nadt.office@nadt.org
Phone: 585-381-5618
Fax: 585-383-1474

Credentials and Licensure: Dance/Movement Therapy

Upon completion of clinical requirements, graduates may be licensed as mental health counselors in most states where such licensure exists. Students who expect to pursue licensure in Mental Health Counseling are advised to refer to their state credentialing requirements to determine if additional coursework is required.

More information about credentialing

Resources

For information on how to access requirements specific to each profession, contact the American Dance Therapy Association at 410-997-4040.

Applicants to the program in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling do not need to have an undergraduate degree in dance or psychology. However, applicants are expected to have had significant background in some kind of movement (e.g., formal dance classes, yoga, ballet, modern, folk) as well as at least some college-level classes in psychology.

All students must also have a 3-credit class in kinesiology before they graduate from the program, but that can be taken at Antioch University New England.

Apply Online or download application materials.

• Meaning in Motion – Blog by Christine Devereaux in Psychology Today
• American Dance Therapy Association
• Association for Dance/Movement Therapy UK
• Kestenberg Movement Profile
• Kestenberg Movement Profile Analysis Program
• The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies
• Dance Notation Bureau
• The School for Body-Mind Centering
• Laban Analysis and Labanotation Database
• National Association of Drama Therapy
• American Society of Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama
• American Music Therapy Association
• American Art Therapy Association
• National Association for Poetry Therapy
• National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies
• Arts Therapy Arena

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