In group therapy sessions we will address themes that are specific to the members, using the group as a source of support while creating a safe and containing place to develop resources and learn more about how we impact and are impacted by others.
The therapy group becomes a type of social microcosm, where members of the group come to represent the various types of people or relationships in your life and the boundaries in place allow group members to explore different patterns of relating without fear of judgement, while having the added benefit of feedback from the other group members.
Members of the group take on many different and ever-shifting roles – witness, protector, mirror, leader, support, instigator, peacemaker, or cheerleader, to name a few. As the group forms an identity, members begin to trust the safety of the group and feel more at ease taking risks, whether that means sharing something vulnerable, trying out a new style of relating, or bringing more of themselves to the group space.
In DMP group sessions, we will often begin with a verbal/movement check-in, followed by a group warm-up, movement exploration around specific themes (individually, in pairs, or as a group), verbal reflection, and a group ending. Some things you might find in a DMP therapy group include: creative movement, the use of props to facilitate movement experiences, vocalizing, mirroring explorations to foster empathy, the use of music or rhythmical group dances, and group discussions. To learn more about DMP group work, check out this blog post.
The group program will be constantly developing to meet the needs and interest of the community.
Group therapy offers a safe space where you can bring your strength, vulnerability, hopes, and needs, and deepen your relationship with yourself and others in an embodied and creative way. Using dance as a medium for self-discovery, process groups are a place to explore your personal growth, receive support, and access your creative impulses towards healing. The groups will provide a space to connect, reflect, and find acceptance, wherever you are in your journey.
So much of the delicate work we do internally is held within intimate relationships, like the ones we have with our therapists, but it can be hard to translate and integrate that work into our day to day life. This is where group work comes in handy – it opens us up to connection in the places where we are most vulnerable. It gives us a safe space to experiment with new ways of doing relationship. And it infuses our lives with new people, who will inevitably shine a light on something within us that wants to be seen.
New group starting May 26th!
Moving into Connection: body, spirit, nature
This weekly group will combine wisdom from Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and nature-oriented spirituality to offer participants a space to connect with their embodied knowing and internal complexity, while attuning to the rhythms of the natural world in a community of like-minded people.
When: 7:15 – 9:15pm, May 26th – June 30th (weekly for 6 weeks)
Where: Liberty Movement & Wellness, 70 Geary Ave
How much: $390 ($65 per group)
Accessibility: three outdoor stairs to access the studio
Participants must sign up for the whole set of sessions, as this is a closed group (no drop-ins permitted). No prior dance experience necessary. There will be a limit to 8 people. All new clients will be interviewed before the group starts to ensure it is a good fit. Email movingtogetherDMP@gmail.com for more information.
Images by Zurry Donevan.
Moving Together 