The Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for children, people with disabilities and autism focus on increasing and developing the participants’ psychosocial skills e.g., eye-contact, turn-taking, initiation skills, waiting and focusing skills, concentration, adaptability, flexibility and transition skills, increasing social and interaction skills, enhancing self-development, self-awareness, emotional literacy and emotional regulation through the use movement, dance, props and verbal communication.

The group sessions offer the participants a safe space where movement and dance are used to nurture positive relationships, build confidence, positive identity and release stress. The aim is for the participants to experience the sense of acceptance, celebration and belonging to an inclusive dancing community and encourage creative expression. The sessions take place once per week and last 45 minutes.

Who can the Dance Movement Therapy sessions for children, people with disabilities and autism can be offered to?

• Children, people with disabilities and autism and their parents/carers who will accompany them.

What does the plan of the Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for children, people with disabilities and autism include?

• Free initial parent/carer consultation to assess the person’s needs and consent form.
• Weekly Dance Movement Therapy group sessions in which children, people with disabilities and autism will participate accompanied with one parent/carer. The number of the participants in each group is small and the groups are designed based on the needs of the participants.
• Consultation for parents/carers once per month (the last session of every month) to reflect the previous sessions and discuss about the strengths and difficulties of the participants.

The Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults and adolescents offer emotional support, empowerment, relaxation and freedom and support the participants to increase self-awareness, enhance self-development, express feelings and thoughts as well as release tension and stress using the body as a positive resource of happiness, wellbeing and creativity.

The sessions incorporate mindfulness activities e.g., breathing and grounding exercises to enhance the participants’ self-awareness and calmness. The sessions are enriched with movement group tasks that support stress and tension release, inner stability, continuity, concentration, expression, flexibility. The Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults and adolescents include verbal reflection, creative responses e.g., drawing and writing, creative movement, improvisation as well as use of props to increase the participants’ playfulness, happiness, wellbeing and creativity. The sessions take place once per week and last 50 minutes.

Who can the Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults and adolescents be offered to?

• Adults of any age and adolescents who would like to find inner stability, express feelings and thoughts, increase self-awareness, enhance self-development, release stress and tension as well as be reconnected with their playfulness and creativity to increase their happiness and wellbeing.

What does the plan of Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults and adolescents include?

• Free initial consultation to assess the person’s needs and consent form in work with adolescents.
• Weekly Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults of any age and adolescents. The groups are designed based on the needs of the participants.
• Parent consultation in work with adolescents when it is needed.