I started working with the language of dance and movement as a young theatre maker at college, feeling that it could communicate more of what I wanted to say, and who I wanted to be, in my performance work than words could. This journey with movement as a vessel for self-expression, awareness and illumination continued from performance to sharing authentic movement practices with peers. Moving with our eyes closed, listening to what was moving in and through us, becoming alive to the present moment, to inner sensations, feelings, moving in a flow of uncensored awareness we were witness to each other and to ourselves in ways that I had not accessed before. I did not know at the time that authentic movement was a practice associated with dance movement psychotherapy. That the founder of authentic movement Mary Starks Whitehouse was a dancer and a psychotherapist who while working with other dancers discovered there was more going on in the studio than training the body, creating choreography, preparing for performances. That something much deeper was being met in these moving, sensing, feeling bodies.

The rich field of dance movement psychotherapy opened in its fullness to me when after many years of movement studies, performance making, community engagement and teaching practice a DMP MSc programme eventually came to Scotland. I jumped on it.

I began my DMP training in 2009 at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. My placement work took place within NHS Mental Health Services. I worked across child, adolescent and adult services. Gaining experience in DMP work with children and adolescents diagnosed with a range of conditions including ADHD, attachment disorders and early trauma. In my research study I worked with adults diagnosed with schizophrenia exploring the benefits of Group DMP and witnessed the significant role that embodiment and movement has on strengthening a core sense of self; how group therapy recognises a universality of feeling; how empathy, acceptance and trust can grow out from a field of non-judgement and safety.

“I found I became stronger as a person through dance, to come back to life is what happened to me” Damien, DMP group participant

I graduated with a MSc. in DMP with Distinction in 2011 and began to work within different organisational settings including primary schools. I developed sessions for whole class groups exploring how to sense and embody feelings, grow emotional awareness, develop group empathy, while having lots of fun. Working with young people with autism who struggled with interpersonal relationships I developed small friend’s groups, trios or quartets to develop social competences and nurture friendships to form. These got named by the young people as “Fun Clubs”.

At the same time as I was studying for my MSc DMP I took on a part time role at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Highlands as a Theatre Arts Worker for adults with additional support needs in community. Applying my DMP skills alongside my theatre arts practice I worked with groups and in 1:1’s across the Highlands as well as inhouse at the Theatre. I met my tribe, heartful and open, straight up and generous people. The work was always joyful, fun and emerged in spontaneous and wondrously creative ways. I spent 11 years working in this role, built up an Integrated Performance Group of 50 members. Created memorable annual performances, two of which “Willy Wonders Splendid Hotel” and “all I have to do is dream” were invited to be performed at the Findhorn Bay Arts bi-annual festivals.

I gained my Private Practice DMP Registration in 2016 and have had the honour of working with people of all ages, inclusive of all abilities in group and 1:1 settings, for short or ongoing periods of time. It is an evolving field of discovery as I work with each person, building safety, growing awareness, sensing aliveness, becoming present to what is unfolding in movement, in the moment and finding the words to meet and ground these moving experiences. Exploring life through the wisdom of the moving body is a highly conscious creative practice. One that invites in a deep awareness of presence and connection. And it’s a pioneering journey here in the NE of Scotland. Onwards and inwards we go!

It’s A Pioneering Journey Here in NE Scotland : Excerpt Of A Dance Movement Psychotherapy Story