This two-day module runs on Sunday 18th April and Sunday 25th April 2027 from 10am - 4.30pm.

This module will help you gain an overview of current body-oriented and relational theories and practice in the treatment of trauma. It will offer you a deeper understanding of the value of DMP in the treatment of trauma. It is open to all DMPs, but is a required module for UKCP accreditation. 

This course is taught by Brigid Wells, Director of Clinical Services at Space To Thrive. Brigid has been working in the area of trauma and development for over 20 years, direct work and group work; more recently, in the last 8 years, working with organisations and teams around young people with complex needs.

Aims

• To gain an overview of current body-oriented and relational theories and practice in the treatment of trauma

• To understand the foundational skills and interventions in working with dance, movement, and the body in the treatment of trauma

• To integrate neuroscience research evidence and attachment theory in the treatment of trauma

• To use the theory as a critical tool to understand therapeutic issues and to gain a deeper understanding of the value of DMP in the treatment of trauma

• To apply in practice the language derived from dance, movement and body-oriented theories in the treatment of trauma

• To critically reflect on the application of the above knowledge and skills in your practice of DMP

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of this module, attendees will have a knowledge and understanding of:

• The legacy of trauma on the brain, body, self-identity, beliefs, and future relationships

• The core aims and main challenges and hazards of trauma therapy

• The basic premises of triphasic treatment models and the skills and interventions appropriate to each phase

• Different ways of using top down (verbal) and bottom up (body-oriented) approaches

• What can be offered using DMP, other somatic approaches, and verbal psychotherapy

• Trauma-specific transference and countertransference responses

• Current dance, movement, and body-oriented theory and practice in the treatment of trauma

• An overview of the theoretical models that inform dance, movement, and body- oriented practice in the treatment of trauma

• How to use both academic texts and research articles to develop knowledge and understanding of trauma treatment from a dance, movement, and body-oriented perspective

Skills and Attributes

On completion of this module, attendees should be able to:

• Reflect on what leads to stabilisation, memory processing and transformation, and the different ways body-oriented and verbal psychotherapists might approach this

• Read, reflect, analyse, and evaluate neuroscientific evidence and attachment theory principles and their relevance to the treatment of trauma

• Critically consider the pros and cons of these issues in relation to DMP practice

• Apply dance, movement, and body-oriented interventions relevant to trauma work into their DMP practice

• Identify and use appropriate literature to support arguments