Welcome
Dance Movement Psychotherapy offers a confidential space to address emotional, relationship, and psychological concerns.
constance novis B mus. perf. MA DMP
I offer a confidential space to reflect on your mental health and overall well-being, all from the comfort and privacy of your home. Perhaps the following questions resonate with you.
Are you looking for a safe space where you can talk about long-term personal issues that you believe may be affecting you emotionally, physically and professionally? Would you like to reflect on your family life and relationships? And what about the effects of the pandemic, lockdown, and COVID-19, which has brought so much grieving and loss?
Are you looking for a way to learn and grow from your struggles rather than be held captive by them, stuck in repetitive patterns? 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?
The Healing Power of Embodiment
Dance Movement Psychotherapy helps you find ‘embodiment’, welcoming your restless, distressed mind back home into your 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 real-life circumstances, feelings and emotions that can seem so overwhelming they block out everything else. This process increases physical and psychological well-being, releases blocked energy and reduces stress and anxiety, all while keeping you grounded in the present.
Unleashing Your Creativity
As a Dance Movement Psychotherapist I know that anyone alive and breathing has the power to be creative, no matter their current physical or psychological state. 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 where no words are needed. What would it be like to imagine yourself not simply as a ‘human being’ or even a 'human doing', but as a ‘human moving’?
No dance experience required
Even though it’s called Dance Movement Psychotherapy, no dance experience is required and you will not be taught dance technique. This is because your body already speaks powerfully and directly through your natural movements. Paying attention to what your moving body is telling you can help you discover more about yourself. My focus is helping you re-discover and re-inhabit your authentic self. We breathe deeply and talk together, and if the impulse to move comes from within you we will follow it, but only when it feels right. This is a collaborative process: I listen to your concerns and help you decide on your therapeutic goals and support you as you drive your own recovery process.
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).
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, January 2020