Dance/movement therapy

Dance/Movement Therapy is one of many therapeutic methods for integrating mind and body to promote well being. The psychotherapeutic use of movement is not the same as what you would experience in a dance technique class. Rather than aesthetics, what the movement looks like from the outside, we are interested in what it feels like on the inside. Like mindfulness meditation, it can help our bodies slow down and process sensory information differently. Like yoga, it can strengthen and stretch us physically. Like talk therapy, it can provide a secure and stable environment for connection. 

Rest assured that no one will be asked to do the macarena or don a pair of ballet slippers. Some things we might actually do include: 

  • Talk. We won’t move all the time. In fact, a lot of talking needs to happen first to establish trust and figure out what might be helpful in therapy. Talking will also continue within every session to process what you are feeling--that’s the mind part of mind/body integration. 

  • Breathwork

  • Listening to music

  • Using bilateral movement like walking, running, drumming, or swaying 

  • Creating a move or a pose to represent something that cannot be put into words 

WHAT IS DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY?

INITIAL CONSULTATION

FREE

All prospective and new clients of The Sonatina Center will begin the intake process with a free thirty (30) minute consultation. Our Intake Coordinator will review our process and policies with you and gather information to determine if dance/movement therapy may be a good fit. The phone consultation serves as an opportunity for you to ask questions about services and gain a deeper understanding of the dance/movement therapy process.

DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY INTAKE SESSION

$95 to 135 (Sliding Fee)

Clients who wish to move forward in the therapeutic process will complete intake paperwork and schedule an intake session with their assigned therapist. The initial appointment is an evaluation session that may be up to one hour in duration, depending on the needs and abilities of the client. During this time, the therapist will gather information and evaluate the client in several domains (i.e. social, communication, gross/fine motor, emotional, cognitive, etc) to gain an understanding of strengths and areas of need that can be addressed in dance/movement therapy sessions.

Following the evaluation, dance/movement therapists will complete a written assessment outlining the client’s strengths and areas of need, the recommended frequency and duration of a session and an individualized goal plan, which they will review with you.

Once therapy begins, your dance/movement therapist will keep track of progress on goals and add goals as needed or recommend transition out of services. Reviews of progress typically occur quarterly.

INDIVIDUAL DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY SESSIONS

$80 to $115/HOUR Sliding Fee

Sessions are facilitated by a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. Sessions are primarily provided at The Sonatina Center’s Dover location, but may also be provided virtually when appropriate. Through the course of therapy, we will work on your specific goals whether they be relational, physical, cognitive, or emotional. Some common goals for therapy include: gain insight into patterns of behavior, create new options for coping with challenges, identify how and when symptoms manifest physically, improve self-esteem, and increase awareness of non-verbal communication.

GROUP DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY SESSIONS

$35/Session

Group Dance/Movement Therapy will focus on social connections and supporting one another. Groups are where the rubber hits the road. It’s a little microcosm of what happens outside therapy in our real lives. Although Dance/Movement Therapy brings in a component of movement, it will function quite a bit like a traditional therapy group. We will talk, share, find commonality, and encourage each other. Groups are designed around specific age ranges and themes such as disability, anxiety, parenting, bereavement. View our Therapy Groups page to check out currently offered groups.

FREE INDIVIDUAL DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY SESSIONS for BLACK, INDIGINOUS & PEOPLE of COLOR

The Sonatina Center is committed to direct actions that bridge the gap of accessibility to services for the BIPOC community as a form of reparations. We have committed to offering free individual services to any BIPOC. Availability is current limited to 6 scholarships for individual dance/movement therapy sessions and we currently have a waiting list. Please contact us for more information. 

PRIVATE INSURANCE & FINANCIAL RESOURCES:

At this time, the Sonatina Center does not accept any private insurance. We do offer a Sliding Fee Discount Program to eligible individuals. Contact us for more information.

If you wish to seek reimbursement through private insurance, we are happy to provide you with a “Super Bill” each month which will include CPT codes for services and our provider numbers. You can submit these invoices to your insurance company to seek reimbursement. Please contact Marissa Scott for additional information regarding private insurance reimbursement.

If you are a Medicaid member, we encourage you to check with your local State Area Agency to inquire about Medicaid waiver programs and additional funding resources.