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| Maintaining high standards of professional education and competence in the field of dance/movement therapy. |
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Pronounced as separate letters or as fak, and short for frequently asked questions, a FAQ is a document that answers questions about some topic. This page pulls together FAQs about the American Dance Therapy Association and related fields. Click on the plus sign (+) next to the bolded title to expand them to see the page content inside, and click on the minus sign (-) to collapse them. Please feel free to suggest a FAQ if you think of one we should have. | |
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Dance/Movement Therapy Research Are there any research articles (outcome based studies) using dance/movement therapy with: Psychiatric patients, Eating disorder issues, Trauma Dual diagnosis patients? There are two articles about general DMT outcomes that may be helpful regardless of the population you are working with. They are Ritter & Low (1996) and Cruz & Sabers (1998) both in the Arts in Psychotherapy. I am facing elimination of dance/movement therapy services at my place of employment due to budgetary restraints. Can you recommend an article that would help me convince my staff that dance/movement therapy is valuable? While it may feel disheartening to be facing reduction in dance/movement therapy services, you may also consider this an extraordinary opportunity. Extraordinary, because you are being forced to analyze, create, and follow through on ways to promote dance/movement therapy and your beliefs in its values and efficacy. Whether your efforts succeed in securing your current employment, or in creating new pathways for your work, the process will be one of enriching your skills and your value, which should serve you well whatever the future may bring. Congratulations for selecting a pro-active approach to a difficult situation. You asked for articles or materials that would be helpful in convincing others that dance/movement therapy is a valuable service. There are two opinions about this: 1) there is no "magic" article that will convince others that dance/movement therapy is important, and there will never be such an article; 2) virtually any existing article about dance/movement therapy can be used to promote the benefits of dance/movement therapy, BUT you must select the article that is right for your audience, and you must present it in the right way. If you have maintained your ADTA membership, you have many years of the journal. Therein you will find the majority of the articles written in our field. Mine the journals for articles that are relevant to the populations that you serve or wish to serve. You also probably (hopefully) have collected articles and resources and references from sources ranging from the ADTA Listserv to regional newsletters to conference compendiums to your master's thesis, as well as the brochure that National Office can send you (there is a small fee associated with this); if you haven't, begin massing and cataloging the materials now. You will find that you have in hand the right pieces of information; you just don't recognize its relevance to your current situation. As you review these materials, keep only one thought in mind: how does this article/paragraph/sentence address the benefits of dance/movement therapy IN TERMS THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE AND BENEFICIAL TO MY IDENTIFIED AUDIENCE. This might require that you spend some time thinking about just what those benefits are, and just who your audience is. Administrators usually look at the bottom line, i.e. dollars, so search for information about the cost-effectiveness of dance/movement therapy. For example, can you offer larger groups using the Chace model than another modality, since the approach fosters synchrony and interaction? Do you offer range-of-movement activities to a group that a PT can only offer one-on-one, and do you additionally provide the psychological drive to participate because the work is more creative? Nursing staff wants to know what will make their job easier in terms of patient management, so you might want to focus on relaxation and stress reduction which results in calmer, easier to manage patients. Continue identifying your target audiences, and brainstorming about what aspects of dance/movement therapy would seem beneficial to them. What is research? It is a systematic investigation of a particular area of knowledge; a process that includes data gathering, data analysis, and drawing conclusions based on the data. What is the committee’s mission? The main objective is to promote research investigation in dance/movement therapy (DMT) and to assist researchers in their process. The committee has created these web pages, with resources that may be helpful to those undertaking research projects. Committee members will also assist ADTA members with questions related to research in DMT, such as proposal development, research design, and selecting appropriate methods. What is the Research Committee? It is one branch of the Education, Research, and Practice Committee. Who are the members of the committee and how will they assist? Below are the names of the current Research Committee members and some of their specific areas of interest and expertise. If you have questions or need advise concerning research, simply send an email to the appropriate person. Cynthia Berrol, Ph.D., ADTR: Development of research ideas into a form appropriate for investigative research. Interpretation of statistical results, and analysis of content in qualitative designs, regarding discussion/implications.
Email: cberrol@csuhayward.edu Robyn Flaum Cruz, Ph.D., ADTR: Research design and assistance with all aspects of measurement and statistical analysis, including reliability and validity, univariate, bivariate, multivariate and classification techniques.
Email: robyncruz@stargate.net Susan Diamond, MA, DTR: Email: susanpdiamond@aol.com Lenore Wadsworth Hervey, Ph.D., ADTR, NCC, REAT: (Committee chair) Qualitative research methods including nontraditional, artistic, and creative approaches to inquiry, from question formulation to data analysis.
Email: lhervey@colum.edu Corinna Hiller, MA, MS, ADTR, NCC:
Email: corinnah@mindspring.com |
Education Questions Can One Receive a DTR with a Master's Degree from a Related Field Plus Dance/Movement Therapy Coursework? Yes, there is an alternate route that requires a master's degree, specific dance/movement therapy courses and supervised internships. For further information write to American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), 2000 Century Plaza, Suite l08, 10632 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044-3263, for materials on the alternate route DTR requirements. What Degree Do Dance/Movement Therapists Receive? Professional training is on the graduate level. Graduates receive a master's degree in dance/movement therapy or related degree title. Graduates from an "approved" dance/movement therapy program are eligible for the DTR (Dance Therapist Registered) credential upon graduation. Graduates of other and alternate route programs must complete a full application packet that is reveiwed by the Credentials Committee. What Does Approval of Graduate Programs Mean? An approved program has met the basic educational standards of the American Dance Therapy Association. What Kinds of Work Experience Would be Helpful for a Future Dance/Movement Therapist? Working with people in a variety of human service settings and teaching dance and creative movement to groups of children and adults. What Undergraduate Preparation Should One Have? Extensive dance experience and a liberal arts background with coursework in psychology. For specific prerequisites contact each graduate program. |
General Questions About Dance/Movement Therapy What Do Dance/Movement Therapists Do? Dance/movement therapists work with individuals of all ages, groups and families in a wide variety of settings. They focus on helping their clients improve self-esteem and body image, develop effective communication skills and relationships, expand their movement vocabulary, gain insight into patterns of behavior, as well as create new options for coping with problems. Movement is the primary medium dance/movement therapists use for observation, assessment, research, therapeutic interaction, and interventions. Dance/movement therapists work in settings that include psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, schools, nursing homes, drug treatment centers, counseling centers, medical facilities, crisis centers, and wellness and alternative health care centers. Dance/movement therapy can be a powerful tool for stress management and the prevention of physical and mental health problems. What Does ADTR (Academy of Dance/Therapists Registered) Mean? This is the advanced level of registry, signifying that an individual has the education and experience to teach dance/movement therapy and to supervise interns. What Does DTR (Dance/Therapist Registered) Mean? It signifies to the public and professional communities that an individual is prepared to practice dance/movement therapy in a clinical, educational, or rehabilitative setting. What is Dance/Movement Therapy? Dance/Movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive, social and physical integration of the individual. Dance/Movement therapists work with individuals who have social, emotional, cognitive and/or physical problems. They are employed in psychiatric hospitals, clinics, day care, community mental health centers, developmental centers, correctional facilities, special schools and rehabilitation facilities. They work with people of all ages in both groups and individually. They act as consultants and engage in research. They live and work throughout the United States, in Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.
What is the Purpose of the American Dance Therapy Association? Since its founding in l966, ADTA has worked to establish and maintain high standards of professional education and competence in the field. ADTA stimulates communication among dance/movement therapists and members of allied professions through publication of the ADTA Newsletter, the American Journal of Dance Therapy, monographs, bibliographies, and conference proceedings. ADTA holds an annual conference and supports formation of regional groups, conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings throughout the year. |
Process of Applying for DTR and ADTR Are application decisions final? No. Applicants have an appeal procedure available to them as described in the Procedural Information and Requirements for each of the two levels of credentialing. Applicants should read these documents thoroughly and carefully. They should be sure that they understand them to avoid errors or misunderstandings that might lead to being pended or rejected. If there are further questions needing clarification that are not addressed in these documents, one may write to the Chair of the Credentials Committee for specific answers c/o the National Office of the ADTA. Questions will only be handled in writing. Please do not telephone the chairperson or the committee members. Do most applicants to the DTR and ADTR Levels of Registry get accepted? Yes, however, some may be pended. The committee pends applications if they are unclear or do not provide the required information. Few individuals are rejected. May I Have Someone Else Read My Application? Yes. The Committee recommends that applicants have someone else review your application for typos, errors, omissions, unclear statements, etc., prior to submitting an application to the committee. What does application pending mean? When DTR and ADTR applicants are pended, the Committee may ask for additional information to clarify questions about their employment, training, recommendations, supervision hours, etc. ADTR applications may also be pended if the Committee has questions about the essays. Pended applicants usually get registered if they submit the requested material by the deadline. What Happens if I Send My Application in Late or My Support Material Does Not Arrive on Time? The Committee adheres to the deadlines indicated in the applications and Procedural Information and Requirements for Dance Therapy Registry. If you are worried about support materials that may not have reached the National Office in time or that your application may not have arrived, please call the office to check. To ensure that your materials have arrived promptly and safely, you may choose to send then via certified or registered mail. The Committee meets once a year during the late winter or spring and needs ample time in advance of the meeting to review the applications. There is a great deal of paperwork for the National Office staff, therefore, exceptions cannot be made. What if I Have More Questions? All members are invited to attend the Credentials Committee meeting which is held at the National Conference each fall. Questions can be asked at the time. You may also send additional questions or problems to the Chair of the Credentials Committee, c/o the National Office. Questions regarding registry will only be answered in writing, not by telephone. Who reads and reviews my ADTR or DTR application? There are seven members of the Credentials Committee. The Committee Chairperson directs the workings of the Committee, clarifies requirements, and serves as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors of the ADTA. Members of the DTR subcommittee read and evaluate the Alternate Route and Other Program applications for the DTR. The members of the ADTR subcommittee read and evaluate the ADTR applications. Each subcommittee is comprised of three ADTRs. One member of each subcommittee serves as chair. All decisions are made by a 2/3 majority. The ADTA Board of Directors appoints one member to each of the subcommittees. The ADTA membership elects the other two members or a total of four of the committee members. The subcommittee members represent each of the three regions. Some work as clinicians. Some teach in graduate programs. All represent work with a variety of populations and a variety of theoretical approaches. Why might a DTR or ADTR Level of Registry application be rejected? If an individual fails to fulfill the DTR or ADTR requirements, the individual may be rejected. For example, if the stated DTR requirement is for three (3) credits of study or 45 hours in a specific area, then having two (2) credits or 30 hours would not meet the requirement. Other possible reasons may include the following: a Master's degree in an unrelated field, inadequate coursework, incomplete internship or supervisory hours, failure to address the questions in the essays, or unsatisfactory letters of recommendation. Will My Choice of Theorist, Work Style, or Population Affect My Chances for Receiving the ADTR Level of Credentialing? No. Applicants must demonstrate basic knowledge of dance/movement therapy theory and process in a sound fashion. They must also validate and support their theoretical framework in the analysis of a session. This is possible regardless of style. Will My Grammar, Spelling, and Written Presentation Be Taken Into Account? The applicant is expected to bring the same quality of writing and care that they would bring to any other piece of professional work. Lack of clarity in the application increases the chances of its being pended or rejected. |
Specifics of Applying for DTR and ADTR As an ADTR Applicant Do I Have To Submit the Supervision Hours Tracking Form (SHTF)? You are required to record your hours in supervision on the SHTF, but you do not have to send it in unless there is a discrepancy between the hours you indicate on your application and your supervisor's report. Do Dance/Movement Therapy Courses Have to be Taught by an ADTR? Yes. Check with the ADTA National Office to see if you are taking your class with an ADTR who has maintained their credential with the Academy of Dance Therapists Registered. This does not apply to graduate dance/movement therapy programs or to courses in kinesiology or movement observation and analysis. It applies to all other independent alternate route coursework in dance/movement therapy. How are Students Who are Pursuing the Alternate Route to the DTR Level of Credentialing Supposed to Know if a Course Will be Acceptable or Not? The DTR packet of information includes the criteria for acceptable courses. You may ask your prospective teachers if their courses adhere to the guidelines for ADTRs teaching courses to alternate route students. Teachers may get copies of the guidelines from the National Office. Currently, the Committee does not make a practice of reviewing all prospective courses. If, however, you or your teacher are still unsure about a course, the Committee will be happy to review the course description and syllabus to see if it meets the established criteria. Please do not send videotapes, articles, or any other material that the teacher may plan to use in the class. If the Committee agrees that the course meets the standards, please save the letter indicating the Committee's decision and include it in your application. How Do I Count Up and Categorize My Training for the DTR Application? Courses must be a minimum of 15 hours or one (1) credit. You may not count the same course toward two different requirements. One course counts only toward one category. Many courses are the equivalent of a standard three credit course or 45 hours. Individual courses may not be broken up to count towards different categories. If, for example, you take a 60 hour course, you may not categorize it as 30 hours theory and practice, 15 hour movement observation, and 15 hours group processes. How Do I Know What Category a Course Fits Into? Check with the instructor. Core requirements include dance/movement therapy theory and practice, group processes in dance/movement therapy, movement observation, and kinesiology. If you have a question, check the catalogue description or course syllabus for the content. Alternate route students must submit course descriptions and syllabi. If you are uncertain as to which category a course belongs in, or believe the committee may not understand why you placed it in the designated category, include a letter from the instructor stating what category the course fits into and what was covered in the course. This also applies to independent coursework (non-college training, e.g., courses taught independently by an ADTR). It also advisable to know specifically in which categories your general training courses fit. Check the catalog descriptions carefully. Check with the instructor or write a letter to the Credentials Committee for clarification if you are still unsure. What Do I, as an Alternate Route Student, Do if the Requirement Change While I am Still in the Process of Taking my Courses? Send a letter to the National Office that indicates the date you began your formal dance/movement therapy training. Include the name of the course and the name of the ADTR who taught it. You will not have to fulfill additional criteria or courses that are added to the curriculum after your official dance/movement therapy starting date. This may not hold true, however, for requirements that may be added for the purpose of certification. What is the Difference Between the Nominated Exceptional Condidate (NEC) and the Exceptional Candidate? The process involved in determining these two designations is markedly different. Two ADTRs nominate the NEC. In contrast, the Credentials Committee identifies exceptional applicants based on their applications for registry. An individual cannot apply as an Exceptional Candidate. The Exceptional Applicant clause is initiated and processed only at the discretion of Credentials Committee members. Such an applicant must far exceed the usual standards to be deemed exceptional. When Applying for the ADTR, What Kind of Support Material Does My Supervisor Have to Submit? Be sure that your supervisor sends in the completed Evaluation and Documentation form (E & D) and the form verifying your hours of supervision. The National Office staff will send these forms to your supervisor(s) after they receive your completed application. You and your supervisor should be familiar with the E&D since it is included in the ADTR application packet. As indicated on page 4, section 6j of the ADTR Procedural Information, all forms of supervision should address the criteria outlined in the E&D. Whom Do You Need to be Supervised by When You are Accruing Hours for the ADTR? Your supervisors must be ADTRs. Of the 48 hours of required supervision, a minimum of 24 hours should be with the same supervisor. Please see the Procedural Information and Requirements for Dance Therapy Registry - ADTR level, pages 3 and 4, for more specific information. |
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