About Dance Therapy by Paula Grech
Paula Grech is a Dance Movement Psychotherapist who works with clients privately and offers regular workshops in personal development.She is a UK-registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (DMP), now resident in France, and also a member of the Société Française de Danse-Thérapie (SFDT).
Paula trained at the Laban Centre in London at Masters Level and began her practice in schools for children with special needs, in the community with adult mental health, family and (NHS) National Health Services. She’s available on Skype for one-to-one private sessions. As a health practitioner, she maintains client confidentiality and adheres to the UK, French and European Codes of Ethics.
“For the last 17 years,” she says, “my work has enabled me to use body movement practices to reach people of all ages and movement abilities.As someone who has always had a deep love for dance, I am passionate about supporting others, in a safely-held space, to achieve optimal health by deepening various communication pathways. I believe the body has an enormous capacity for healing and self-realisation.Discovering expressive art forms and integrating dance, movement, mine, play, voice and sound are tools for working together with my clients in the therapeutic space. Jungian psychoanalytical approaches are reflected in my practice.”
“I believe we all need a creative outlet of one sort or another to develop our humane qualities and help navigate healthier pathways to achieve a balanced perspective in life. Whatever difficulties you may be undergoing, dance therapy can help — and especially if you are feeling depressed, anxious, traumatised or need help with emotional issues. Dance Therapy is especially useful for young children with impaired communication abilities and critical emotional needs. Elderly people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, and people using mental health services, can also greatly benefit from DMT. In sum, dance therapy can help unblock the body in many ways,” Paula says.
These days Paula is building her private practice in Montpellier France, where she’s been living for the last several years, as well as expanding her various workshops and retreats, for instance in Malta (where she spent much of her childhood). She also continues to develop workshops in the UK (where she grew up and received her higher education), and offer individual psychotherapy and personal development support in groups.
