Arts psychotherapies, recommended to patients by GPs, care co-ordinators or community mental health teams as treatment for aspects of dementia, use music, art, dance or drama as an enjoyable form of communication and self-expression. Courses of interactive weekly sessions run by professional arts therapists, either one-to-one or in small groups, help people to work through problems through creative expression.
The following professional associations will direct you to specialists in your area:
Art Psychotherapy involves creating spontaneous images or objects in paint, pastel, pencil, textile or clay as a focus for personal reflection and emotional exploration.
Contact: British Association of Art Therapists, 24-27 White Lion Street, London N1 9PD. Telephone: 020 7686 4216. Email: info@baat.orgwww.baat.org
Dance Movement Psychotherapy enables people to make personal statements and share ideas through rhythm, ritual, storytelling through movement, posture, gesture, mime, movement patterns and shapes.
Contact: Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK, ADMPUK, 32 Meadfoot Lane, Torquay TQ1 2BW. Email: admin@admt.org.uk.
www.admt .org.uk
Drama Therapy uses action methods, story telling involving improvisation and role-play, to facilitate creativity and imagination.
Contact: British Association of Drama Therapists, Waverley, Battledown Approach, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6RE. Telephone: 01242 235515. Email: enquiries@badth.org.uk, www.badth.org.uk
Music Therapy encourages people to find their ‘voice’ through spontaneous music-making. The therapist, a skilled musician, accompanies and supports the client. Listening to each other, they develop an improvised musical dialogue.
Contact: British Association for Music Therapy, 24 – 27 White Lion Street, London N1 9PD. Telephone: 020 7837 6100. Email: info@bamt.org. www.bamt.org
Postgraduate Arts Psychotherapy Courses:
Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London: MA and PgDip in Drama and Movement Therapy MA ad PgDip..
Goldsmiths, University of London: Art Therapy MA, MRes; Dance Movement Psychotherapy PhD, MPhil.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama: Music Therapy MA.
Institute for Art in Therapy Education, London: Integrative Arts Psychotherapy MA.
Nordoff-Robbins, London: Music Therapy PhD, MPhil, MMT.
Roehampton University: Dance Movement Psychotherapy MA, Dramatherapy MA and PgDip; Music Therapy MA, PgDip,
Anglia Ruskin University: Dramatherapy MP; Music Therapy MA.
Birmingham City University: Art Therapy ‘Art Health and Wellbeing’ MA.
Bristol, University of the West: Dramatherapy MA; Music Therapy MA
Dance Voice, UK: Dance Movement Psychotherapy MA (CCCU).
University of Derby: Art Therapy MA; Dance Movement Psychotherapy MA, Dramatherapy MA.
University of Hertfordshire: Art Therapy MA.
University of Wales, Newport: Art Psychotherapy MA; Music Therapy MA
University of Worcester: Dance Therapy PgDip, PgCert; Dramatherapy MA.
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh: Dance Movement Psychotherapy MSc, Music Therapy MSc.