Dance Movement Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that allows the body to heal, grow, play and develop through the mind-body connection.

Somatics & Dance Movement Therapist

DTAA Registered

Olivia is an experienced and qualified somatics and dance movement therapist, working, moving and connecting in Brisbane. She holds a Graduate Diploma of Somatics and Dance Movement Therapy from Tensegrity Training. 

Olivia is passionate and has a deep care for helping people and creating a safe space where clients can express their most authentic self. She believes in a person centred approach where the pace of treatment is led by the client and their bodies capacity. Each session will be individually tailored to the client based on their goals, preferences and needs.  

 Olivia is currently offering individual sessions on Fridays at Bardon Counselling & Natural Therapy Centre with a weekly group session held on Friday evenings.

Olivia Rooney 

Graduate Diploma of Somatics and Dance Movement Therapy 
Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance)

“Dance movement therapy is the relational and therapeutic use of dance and movement to further the physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and cultural functioning of a person.”

-DTAA (Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia )

DTAA

“ Paradoxically, when we dance, our psyche is mobilized through the freedom of symbolic expression and unresolved divisions within the self can become integrated as one mind-body-spirit.”

- Christina Devereaux

What is Somatics & Dance movement therapy?

Dance movement therapy is a psychotherapeutic tool. It is a holistic approach to healing and empowerment, using the mind-body connection. It helps to address physical conditions, mental health issues such as anxiety & depression, cognitive conditions and social/ behavioural issues through nervous system regulation, self awareness and exploration and the art of play.

Somatics is a sub-category of bodywork that focuses on increasing awareness within the body and the perception of it’s internal functioning sensations. It works to shift the focus from living in our heads to living in our bodies and increasing the mind-body connection through the ‘felt-sense’.

Our body and posture hold memories that our mind may have suppressed. Somatics and dance movement therapy (S&DMT) have the potential to bring the unconscious to consciousness.

Benefits of Somatics and DMT

Benefits of Somatics (include, but are not limited to)

  • Increased emotional awareness

  • Decrease in chronic tension and chronic pain

  • Increase in mobility and correct posture

  • Helps to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression

  • Improves quality of sleep

  • Aids in nervous sytem regulation

  • Increases the body’s proprioception

  • Helps to release both the physical and emotional imprint of trauma

Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy ( include but are not limited to)

  • Helps to improved mobility and motor skills

  • Promotes stress relief

  • Promotes nervous system regulation

  • Improved body image

  • Improved self-esteem and confidence

  • Increases and improves communication skills

  • Increases self-awareness, body awareness and the ability to self regulate

Dance movement therapy has been shown to be beneficial to those experiencing; autism, ADHD, mental health conditions and mood and anxiety disorders, cancer, trauma, chronic pain, PTSD, dementia and alzheimers.

Johnar Movement Therapy Services

Private Sessions

A person centred approach, 1:1 sessions offer the most personalised attention. Your therapist will work with you to help you address your needs and achieve your goals.

Sessions are 1 hour in length and are often held weekly. However, alternative options can be arranged.

Group Sessions

Group sessions offer individuals to experience the benefits of dance movement therapy without the cost of an individual session. It also encourages connection, creativity and play as a sense of community is established from week to week.

Weekly group sessions available at Bardon Counselling & Natural Therapy Centre, Fridays at 5:30pm.



FAQs

  • No dance experience is necessary. All bodies of all ages and abilities are welcome in this space.

  • Please wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Active wear or free flowing material that is non restrictive is suggested.

  • Yes. Dance movement therapy is an evidence based approach and can be beneficial to NDIS participants by; improving motor skills and mobility function, improving confidence and communications skills, increasing their level of self awareness and improving the relationship they have with themselves and others. In addition, dance movement therapy is also a fun and creative outlet and is a form of nonverbal communication and is therefore very beneficial to some NDIS participants.

    Dance movement therapy can be accessed through NDIS funding if plans are either self managed OR plan managed.

  • For individual sessions, the initial consultation is $100 for one hour with subsequent sessions at $90.

    A sliding scale of fees can be applied where required.

  • The name ‘Johnar’ is a combination of two names, Jan and John. Two loved ones who have recently passed and were integral to Olivia’s growth and upbringing and provided unconditional love and support. The business name is dedicated to them.

Testimonials

“Thank you for our sessions. It was so helpful and beneficial for me in my healing process. I was able to process a lot of trauma through our sessions in ways that felt safe and explorative, knowing I could always come back. Thank you so much for everything, it’s meant the world.”

- Kaleigh in Canada.

I had the pleasure of witnessing Olivia's remarkable work with my NDIS clients in the past. Her genuine compassion and deep understanding of others make her a truly exceptional Dance movement therapist. The individuals she worked with thoroughly enjoyed their sessions with Olivia, benefiting greatly from her expertise and care. As a compassionate Dance movement therapist, she has consistently proven her ability to create a safe and nurturing environment for individuals with disabilities, fostering meaningful connections and facilitating their personal growth.

- Aiko Ushizuka, Dance Movement Therapist, Brisbane

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