Harness the Healing Power of Dance as a Counseling Method

The Dance/Movement Therapy concentration in Rider’s M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will enable you to combine your passion for dance with your desire to help others. You will be able to help people with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, poor self-esteem, post traumatic psychosis, addictions, autism, developmental disabilities and dementia, among others.

Admission Requirements

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How to apply

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By the Numbers

$45k

Median annual salary for dance/movement therapists (Payscale.com, 2020)

15%

Projected job growth through 2020, faster than average

16

Students max per DMT-specific course

2.5

Year completion rate - or attend part-time and finish in 3.5 or 4.5 years

Only 1

Rider’s CMHC MA degree is the only CACREP-accredited degree with a DMT concentration

Enrich the Lives of Others

Use your creativity, artistry and knowledge in dance to improve health and wellbeing through expressive movement.

Common Workplace Settings

  • Counseling and mental health programs
  • Psychiatric hospitals
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Correctional facilities
  • Substance abuse treatment programs
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Schools for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities

Concentration Features

• This concentration meets the academic requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and most other states and is in candidacy for the national Registered Dance Movement Therapist (R-DMT) through the American Dance Therapy Association.

• Be active in your learning. Movement Based Experiential Learning is central to developing the mind-body connection as well as the knowledge and skills to practice DMT

• Dance and move to gain insight into your creative process and how to use creativity in DMT

• Gain extensive and valuable clinical experience

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Education building with flowers in front of it.

Concentration Requirements

Dance/Movement Therapy is a concentration in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s program. This concentration requires a separate movement interview for admission.

All students in this area of study must complete 60-credits of coursework as well as 900 hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork must be completed towards the end of the program over a minimum of two semesters, after completion of required academic coursework. The DMT concentration requires 15-credits of coursework specific to DMT (including 3 credits of a DMT fieldwork course). Students in the MA CMHC (with a DMT concentration) do not have electives as part of their program of study.

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How to Apply

View requirements, application deadlines and steps to apply. Applicants with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

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4+2 Option for Dance and Psychology Majors

A 4+2 degree option allows qualified undergraduate dance or psychology majors at Rider University to accelerate earning their master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Dance/Movement Therapy. Contact the program coordinator to learn more.

Feet in a dance studio.

Accreditation Information

Rider’s clinical mental health program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP), the premier national accrediting body that ensures excellence in counselor preparation and training.

The MA Counseling and MA CMHC programs are on an 8-year accreditation cycle and are CACREP-accredited until October 31, 2022. CACREP accreditation is sought for our programs on an ongoing basis.

For a copy of the latest evaluation report, contact the CACREP coordinator at 609-896-5351.

Dance movement therapy demonstration.
Moore Library
I never would have thought that I would be able to incorporate something I love so much (dance) with helping others and turning it into my career path. I know Rider is giving me the tools to have a successful future as a professional helper.
Stephani Herman, Class of 2021
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A. (Dance/Movement Therapy Concentration)

Not Sure What Program is Right For You?

Compare Rider's graduate programs in school counseling, school psychology, applied behavior analysis and clinical mental health counseling.

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