What is up with the alphabet soup?!!!

Dear Readers~

Greetings! I hope you are enjoying the gifts that summer has to offer you - no matter where you are or how much money you have to spend. Consider a vacation in your backyard or front steps and enjoy a refreshing glass of herbal iced tea or a fresh slice of watermelon!

Now, on to the topic at hand: ALPHABET SOUP!

Why is it that everyone in the medical field has all of those letters scrawled after their names? What are they - what do they mean - and why do they exist? Great questions - and to be an informed consumer - you need to know the answers!

What are they? The letters behind a professional's name are credentials. Credentials are short-hand abbreviations for specific licenses or certifications/registrations that the professional has earned/obtained. These range from M.D. for Medical Doctor - to LPN, for Licensed Practical Nurse - to CPA, for Certified Public Accountant (who you would not go to for medical help!)

Why do they exist? Credentialing and professional registry offers the consumer information. That is - each credential has required, specific and specialized training that the practitioner must complete in order to use the credentials (in most cases). Most commonly, these requirements have numerous components which may include: educational requirements, testing procedures, and a monetary commitment on the part of the individual being certified/credentialed. *Note here the difference between being a PROFESSIONAL MEMBER of an organization and being CREDENTIALED by a professional organization.

What do they mean? This is the tricky part - each abbreviation means something different - and there are both private and governmental credentialing bodies. Generally in the United States, LICENSES are legally overseen by STATE Governments - and if you are utilizing medical or mental health services - you want to make sure that your provider has the necessary license to practice (also true for any professional service such as plumbing or electrical work). Not all professions require a license - but many do and by using licensed professionals, you as a consumer are assured that the provider has met MINIMAL COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS and can easily learn whether the provider has any MALPRACTICE COMPLAINTS against him or her (by searching online for the state's professional license verification page).

In dance therapy, you will see a range of credentials that may vary from provider to provider - greatly due to state availability of licensure for Dance/Movement Therapists and other creative arts therapists. However, the American Dance Therapy Association oversees the credentialing of professional Dance/Movement Therapists and offers two levels of registry (soon to become Board Certification –stay tuned for more). They are as follows:
* DTR: Dance Therapist Registered. This is the entry-level credential for Master's-level Dance Therapists. The DTR allows dance therapists to perform assessments/evaluations and provide dance therapy services and interventions as part of a TREATMENT TEAM in a clinical, educational or rehabilitative setting. DTRs work intra-dependently with other professionals and require supervision from an ADTR.
* ADTR: stands for Academy of Dance Therapists Registered and is an advanced-level of credentialing for the Dance/Movement Therapist. This level of credentialing indicates to the public that the Clinician is approved to teach, supervise, and provide services independently.

As noted in previous posts, many DMTs are also licensed as Mental Health Counselors. These licenses and the corresponding credential abbreviations differ by state; some examples include: LCMHC, LMHC, or LPC.

There are many other certifications and specializations that Dance/Movement Therapists may carry - so the best thing to do as a consumer is to ASK! You have the right to know the training and expertise of your providers, so don't hesitate to ask what all that mumbo-jumbo alphabet soup really means! If your provider doesn’t answer all your questions - I encourage you to utilize the web to research credentialing and licensure!

Here’s to your health!
Ty

What is a Dance Therapist?

Even before I became a Dance/Movement Therapist (also referred to as a Dance Therapist), people began asking me that question: What is a Dance Therapist? To some, it may appear so overtly obvious that it seems a silly question - to others the imaginings this title may conjure might be down-right scary. In actuality, I don't believe either of these sentiments are true... as it turns out, Dance/Movement Therapy is a very complex field and thankfully, due to high professional standards of practice, educational standards, clinical training and an encompassing Code of Ethics, patients may rest-assured that individuals with Credentialing from the American Dance Therapy Association are qualified to treat them. See my next post for more information!

Here are a few pointers about what dance therapy is:

• Dance therapy is psychotherapeutic: it utilizes movement, dance, breath, body awareness and other movement forms (e.g. Thai Chi, Yoga) to address the physical, mental, emotional or spiritual needs of clients. The field has close ties with Professional Counseling Psychology, and many of us are dually certified/licensed in BOTH verbal counseling AND Dance/Movement Therapy.
• Dance therapy is individualized: whether in group dance therapy OR individual dance therapy - clients will learn about their individual movement preferences, what parts of their own body are showing signs of energetic dysfunction, and will develop skills to change their behavior & thoughts (possible techniques may include: breathing techniques, postural shifts, movement sequences, physicalized affirmations) to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual integration.
• Dance therapy is a creative process: although like any psychotherapy, dance therapy can be hard work, IT ALSO may provide GREAT JOY, CATHARTIC RELEASE, & BIOLOGICAL RELIEF (through the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters important to any recovery.)
  

A few words about what dance therapy is NOT:

• Dance therapy is NOT therapy for dancers. While professional dancers are welcomed to participate in Dance Therapy groups, or individual psychotherapy - the field of Dance Therapy is open to EVERYONE, regardless of your dance/movement background. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
• Dance therapy is NOT a "new age" therapy. While many clients find the dance therapy experience novel, it is important to note that dance therapists are NOT NEW to the field of psychotherapy, counseling or psychiatry. Dance Therapy is a respected modality in the field of Creative Arts Therapies and has a history spanning back 50 years +.
• Dance therapy is NOT aerobics or exercise class (but some dance therapists may approach certain groups with exercise as a clinical goal, such as in a nursing care facility where residents get few opportunities for movement and physical activity.) While you may work up a sweat in dance therapy, the focus is on relating the body, mind & spirit.
• Dance therapy is NOT Physical Therapy (though we do have things in common): if you have a serious medical condition or physical injury/impairment, a dance therapist may be able to coordinate services with your physician and physical therapist to help you deal with the Psycho-somatic (brain - body) elements of your physical needs, but dance therapy cannot replace these other important medical interventions.

If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about Dance/Movement Therapy, I encourage you to visit the following link: http://www.adta.org/index.cfm to find more information from the American Dance Therapy Association, or contact me directly.

Sincerely,
Ty