Layla Smith


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (RDMP MA), a Private Practitioner, Clinical Supervisor, Certified Movement Analyst (CMA), and Movement Teacher (DTLLS) (BA hons).
Personal Therapy: I offer individual and group Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) sessions to both adults and children. All sessions are confidential, given face to face and can either be long or short term depending on client needs.
I aim to provide a safe, contained and non-judgmental environment to support and empower an individual in their personal exploration. I work with Integrative and Humanistic approaches to help integrate body and mind through verbal and non-verbal communication.
With focus on working with being present in the moment, I encourage creative and spontaneous movement to explore any themes and emotions which may emerge in a session. This exploration of creative potential is useful as both therapeutic tool and a life skill. Learning to understand, trust and follow body signals and impulses can help develop body and emotional awareness and allow opportunities for personal growth and change.
I can help with issues on: loss, stress, anxiety, depression, body image, physical/sexual abuse, relationships, learning disabilities, sensory difficulties, physical disabilities or general personal development.
Please see my website for further information: www.laylasmithpsychotherapy.com
Supervision: I offer individual or small group supervision sessions for therapists, trainee therapists and health care professionals with an interest in an embodied approach.
Movement Teaching: For adults, I provide group or individual sessions in body awareness, movement observation and Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) for professional and personal development.
I also offer supervision of LMA language description, reflections on clinical work and movement observation skills which can help simplify and deconstruct complex movement patterns enabling clarity of intervention within clinical practice.
Please see my website as above for further information.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an experienced registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (RDMP MA), a Private Practitioner, Clinical Supervisor, Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) and Movement Teacher (DTLLS) (BA hons). Alongside a private practice, I have 19 years experience working as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist in secondary care in the NHS; inpatient & community acute adult mental health, continuing care in severe dementia and in primary care.
As a teacher, I facilitate different DMP (Foundation and MA) workshops in higher education. Other clinical experience since 2006 includes: adult and child mental health, severe dementia, acute adult mental health, learning disabilities, chronic depression, medically unexplained symptoms, eating disorders and forensics.
Please see www.laylasmithpsychotherapy.com for further information.
Member organisations
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 - £85.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Personal Therapy: £75 - 85 per 55 minute session - please contact me to discuss
Groups: depends on numbers, please contact me to discuss
Supervision: £60 individual - please contact me to discuss
Groups: depends on numbers and location so please contact me to discuss
A sliding scale for trainee therapists for supervision is possible
Movement Teaching: £70/hour individual for LMA & movement observation
Groups: depends on numbers and location so please contact me to discuss
Workshops: will be advertised on my website
When I work
Daytime availability
Further information
What is Dance Movement Psychotherapy(DMP)?
DMP is a form of therapy that encourages self-expression, creativity and communication using the body. Within the context of a therapeutic relationship, it uses movement and verbal expression as a way of exploring and working through positive/negative emotional issues and unacknowledged feelings. DMP engages people in an artistic and therapeutic process through which they can discover their own power to symbolise, organise and integrate important life experiences.
Please see my website for more information on session structure.