Case studies : Dance movement psychotherapist: Linsey

After completing her first degree in drama and theatre, Linsey became a volunteer at Dance Voice. She is now a dance movement psychotherapist.

Like many dance movement psychotherapists, Linsey works in two distinct roles. Hers are closely linked, as she combines practice as a dance movement therapist with teaching on dance movement psychotherapy courses at Dance Voice: Dance Movement Therapy Centre. She loves both sides of her work and sees it as a vocation as well as a job - one which is perfect for her. She feels privileged to have found a profession about which she is passionate, which allows her to be creative, move her body and work to help others every day. After completing her first degree in drama and theatre, Linsey became a volunteer at Dance Voice, a charitable and unique community-based therapy centre with a team of dance movement psychotherapists working together. Enjoying this work, she then studied for a postgraduate diploma followed by a Masters degree in dance movement therapy at Roehampton University, maintaining her employment with Dance Voice for the practical elements of the course.

Dance Voice has recently expanded its educational focus, with its own accredited MA course now in its second year, as well as a BTEC National Certificate course and summer schools. Linsey is one of three tutors for the MA, which covers different psychotherapy approaches, neurology, diversity and culture, dance techniques, choreography, history of dance and analysis of physical movement. While the course is academically challenging, there is a strong focus on experiential learning and the students must take responsibility for their own learning. The course involves students undergoing therapy, so they must embrace change and be prepared to develop as the course is a life-changing journey. This is an important point for potential entrants to bear in mind. For Linsey, students’ ongoing development makes her role exciting, as she responds to the different strengths each person brings and the constantly evolving dynamic in the group. The challenge is for her to adapt approaches to assist her students and help them draw on their own and others’ strengths to gain the maximum benefit from each step of their experience.

Most of Linsey’s week is still devoted to therapy, and this is also hugely varied. Working both on-site and at community venues such as schools and residential homes, Linsey’s client base consists of adults and children as well as individuals, groups and families. The needs are diverse and include people with learning disabilities, brain injuries and mental health needs in addition to elderly people and children on the autistic spectrum. With a humanistic, person-centred approach, sessions are open and flexible though they follow a structure with warm-up, content and closure. The content part inevitably varies enormously according to each client’s issues and some need more direction than others. Linsey’s task is to guide and facilitate, acting as a witness and in some cases interpreting what she feels as a response to the client’s movement. While therapists listen, interpret and respond through movement, language is also an important element, and oral communication skills are in constant use.

Linsey runs many of her sessions alone but particularly values being able to work in a team setting at Dance Voice where she can share ideas with other dedicated professionals as both therapist and tutor. In many therapeutic roles, one-to-one work is very common, and therapists frequently operate independently rather than sharing work. Professional supervision is one way in which practitioners can successfully avoid isolation and gain support from peers. However, there are often opportunities to liaise and collaborate with a range of professionals in other organisations to develop holistic programmes for clients and ensure they have the best possible support package.

Meeting and working with many of our hidden minorities, Linsey feels humbled by learning and coming to understand the different worldviews people have. Her work is challenging in many ways, including physically and emotionally. Studying for and taking on a role that deals with clients’ significant personal needs is not a step to be taken lightly. Nevertheless, seeing and being part of minor miracles and breakthroughs that clients experience makes this Linsey’s perfect job.