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Dance movement therapist
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£20,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
Dance movement therapists (DMTs) help people deal with a wide range of emotional, social, psychological and physical issues through the use of movement and dance.
As a DMT, you would typically work with clients to help them express their feelings, develop social confidence and increase body awareness. Your day-to-day work would involve observing your clients' movements, planning individual therapy sessions (including adapting clients' movement patterns), and creating a safe environment to promote communication.
You would work with people of all ages, individually and in groups. Your clients will come to you for a variety of reasons, for example:
- to improve their self-esteem, self awareness and perception of their body image
- to develop effective communication skills
- to gain insights into their patterns of behaviour
- to create coping strategies and new ways to manage their lives.
This form of therapy is based on the belief that movement reflects a person's pattern of thinking and feeling. Some of your clients may use therapy sessions simply for their own personal growth. However, you may also work with people recovering from abuse or violence, and those living with difficulties surrounding eating disorders, autism, or severe emotional problems.
HoursDesc
Hours
You could work in a variety of settings including hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation units, schools and private practice. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Your working hours would usually be between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Occasionally you may need to cover weekends and evenings. Many therapists work on a sessional basis and there are very few full-time positions.
IncomeDesc
Income
- DMTs may earn around £20,000 to £30,000 a year
- Senior therapists working in the NHS may earn between £39,000 and £46,000 a year.
Self-employed or sessional therapists can charge between £25 and £50 an hour.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will need a postgraduate qualification recognised by the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapists (ADMPUK) before you can start work as a Dance Movement Therapist (DMT).
To get on to a postgraduate course, you will need a degree in a relevant subject (such as dance, performing arts, psychology, medicine or nursing) or an equivalent professional qualification. Check with course providers for exact entry details, because you may also be considered if you have extensive relevant experience .
You will also usually need:
- around 2 years' relevant work experience (paid or unpaid), for example leading a creative or movement group
- a background in at least one dance or movement form, and some experience in a variety of forms
- the ability to improvise and use movement to relate and communicate.
Check the ADMPUK website for details of alternative entry routes and a list of accredited courses.
During a course, you will study subjects such as anatomy, psychology, psychotherapy and movement observation. You will also have personal therapy throughout the programme. Courses take at least two years to complete and will usually include a minimum of 200 hours' direct client contact and 100 hours of clinical supervision.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are working as a DMT, you can pursue opportunities for further research, gain a range of clinical experiences and continue with your own personal therapy.
You could go on to work towards Senior Registered Dance Movement Therapist (Senior RDMT) status. This would allow you to work in private practice, teach DMT, provide clinical supervision to less experienced colleagues and act as a consultant.
Throughout your career, you will need to keep up to date with the latest research, theory and practice within dance and movement therapy. The ADMPUK will also expect you to complete around 24 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) activity a year. Check their website for details of opportunities.
The ADMPUK applied to the Health Professions Council (HPC) for statutory regulation of DMTs. The HPC have recommended this action to the Department of Health. It is unclear at this stage how or if this will affect the education and training of DMTs. Check with the ADMPUK and the HPC website for further information.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- creativity and a good imagination
- experience in at least one form of dance and movement
- the ability to inspire and motivate clients
- emotional stability and resilience to work with clients experiencing mental or physical health issues
- excellent communication skills and the ability to listen
- good levels of physical fitness
- an interest in the arts, health, healing and complementary therapies
- strong powers of observation
- an understanding of psychology, anatomy and physiology.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapists (ADMPUK) 
32 Meadfoot Lane
Torquay
TQ1 2BW
www.admt.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You could work with a range of public and voluntary organisations, including hospitals, care homes, schools for children with special needs, prisons and units for young offenders. You may be able to use the contacts you made during your postgraduate clinical placement to help you secure your first paid post.
With at least two years' experience and Senior Registered Dance Movement Therapist (Senior RDMT) status, you could set up in private practice or work on a self-employed, freelance basis. To succeed, you will need to network, create contacts with therapists in other fields, promote your services to the wider community and build a solid reputation, which will take time to achieve.
Opportunities are increasing in the NHS, and with around five years' experience you could progress to Head of Arts Psychotherapy, overseeing other therapists working with acute and community-based clients.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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