Young me always thought that dancing was for other people. Through a journey of pole dance, lifting heavy weights, birthing and raising babies (and lots of wiggling my body in weird ways) I realised that dancing and movement helped me understand who I was. That movement is powerful. Wanting to share this has led me to the therapeutic practice of Dance Movement Therapy. In my life before this work, my common thread in my myriad of occupations has been a deep caring for other humans, coupled with a chronic inability to stop moving.
I’m an observer of the moving body and the unsaid, a recogniser of patterns, and unrelenting pursuer of authenticity. I have compassion for the tapestry of human experience - knowing that many true things can co-exist at once. I believe these traits make me uniquely positioned to hold space for others in making sense of their own experiences, ideas, and emotions. I also bring the joy, because fun is in short supply these days.
Through my lived experience and study I have come to realise that working through the body is deeply effective therapy when used in concert with our words. That movement is our thoughts and our feelings made real in the world. I offer an emotionally sturdy space for my clients to reconnect with their own body and its ability to offer them wisdom.
I am also committed to evidence based practice underpinning my work. This field is emerging; I believe the combination of the intuitive wisdom of our bodies, coupled with rigorous scientific inquiry is what makes for the best outcomes for my clients.
Having completed the formal parts of a Graduate Diploma of Dance Movement Therapy & Somatics, I am currently undertaking my required practice hours to finalise my qualification and be eligible for professional membership under the DTAA (Dance Therapists Associate of Australia). I am also currently studying my Advanced Diploma of Counselling with the AIPC (Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors).
Contact me at leahjanerhodes@gmail.com