Welcome
“Just take this step. The horizon
will look after itself.”
Charlie Makesy
constance novis B mus. perf. MA DMP
You've found a confidential space to reflect on your mental health and overall well-being, in person or online. Perhaps the following questions resonate with you.
Does the thought of healing emotional pain, rekindling your creativity and moving forward call out to you? Would you like help exploring new ways to arrive where you want to be in your life, as the person you know you can be? I can offer you a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore personal issues that may be affecting you emotionally, physically and professionally. If you are feeling stuck, repeatedly defaulting to behaviour patterns that no longer fit, psychotherapy is a good place to look at this and find new ways of being in the world.
The Healing Power of Embodiment
Do you find yourself dwelling on the past or worrying about the future? Movement Psychotherapy helps you find ‘embodiment’, a way of welcoming a restless and distressed mind back home into the body in the here and now. Being embodied gives you a break from negative thinking and anxiety, and offers you the possibility to step back from the kinds of feelings and emotions that seem so overwhelming they block out everything else. This process can increase overall well-being, release blocked energy and reduce stress and anxiety.
Recovery at Your Own Pace
From our earliest moments in the womb we are moving, and throughout our lives our movements and gestures provide us with a universal means of communication. Your body already speaks powerfully and directly through your natural movements, so paying attention to what your moving body is telling you will help you discover more about yourself. This is a collaborative process: I listen to your concerns and help you decide on your therapeutic goals and support you all the way as you drive your own recovery at your own pace. As well as talking through your concerns, welcoming in an awareness of your natural movements, such as how you sit, stand or hold yourself, or where you hold tension, can help you get in contact with feelings and emotions you may have suppressed or split off from long ago.
A collaborative process
Neuroscience has shown that simply by becoming aware of how we move, and then adjusting it, even in subtle ways, we cause positive changes in the brain. This alters feelings of powerlessness into a sense of being more in control. So, what would it be like to imagine yourself not simply as a ‘human being’ or even a 'human doing', but as a ‘human moving’? As an embodied, creative practitioner, I can help you understand how your mind and body work together to offer new insights and bring about change. I will not make assumptions about where your psychotherapy journey will unfold, whether goal-oriented or longer term. We’ll find this together.
From the UK Regulatory Body
‘Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) recognises body movement as an implicit and expressive instrument of communication and expression. DMP is a relational process in which client/s and therapist engage in an empathic creative process using body movement and dance to assist integration of emotional, cognitive, physical, social and spiritual aspects of self. DMP is practiced as individual and group therapy in settings such as health, education, social services and in private practice. The profession is continually informed by research and by initiatives and projects that open up and extend the field of DMP practice’. (ADMP UK).
CULTURAL COMPETENCE: CURIOSITY, OPENNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
Psychotherapy continues to be a predominantly white and cis-heteronormative area (though things are evolving). For this reason, cultural competence is an important element of my practice. This starts with challenging any assumption that what is familiar to me is ‘normal’, and anything outside of this is ‘other’. I remain aware of the possible existence of such assumptions in myself before trying to become competent in someone else’s culture, worldview or perspective. All this requires is open-mindedness and curiosity, and readiness to challenge my own assumptions (unconscious or otherwise), while listening deeply to what it is like to be you.
A selection of recent Testimonials
What others have said about Constance
‘ … the members absolutely loved your sessions and were raving about them afterwards so thank you again’.
Project Manager, Creative Arts Therapy for Young Adults with Learning Disabilities
‘I have seen Constance build safe, warm and encouraging environments for our students to be able to express themselves without fear of ridicule or judgement. This is quite an achievement as many of our students have experienced years of very public educational failure and can avoid situations where the chance of failure is seen as a real possibility’.
Headteacher, Special Needs Community College
‘Attendance by our service users has been regular and consistent. They have fed back to me the significant improvement in their recovery journey and mental well-being’.
Manager MIND Well-Being Hub
‘I was full of energy after each session. The sessions also helped my mental health’.
MIND service user, group participant
‘You made a great contribution to my overall recovery and re-integration with my body’.
MIND service user, one-to-one participant
‘I found Constance’s suggestion of ”Listen to your Body” really interesting and it has returned to
me several times since. Wise words and I am sure ones that promote good physical and
mental health. This combined with her relaxed and accommodating manner made her
talk memorable to young and old!’
Deputy Head, Co-curriculum, Marlborough College, commenting on presentation
“The Body Never Lies” given to students and staff
The Child Development Centre FAQs
Movement Therapy with Children FAQs
I also work with children under the umbrella of
THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE in person in London or online
contact: info@thechildcentre.com
