Professional Members
This page lists dance movement therapists who are current Professional Members of the DTAA, the highest level of credentialling for dance movement therapists in Australia.
For information about becoming a Professional Member, please go to our membership page.
For a listing of other qualified dance movement therapists, please go to our Associates page.
Current Professional Members: to have your details on the list added or amended, please email Kim Dunphy.
ACT | NSW | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | International
ACT:
Sandra Kay Lauffenburger, Prof. Member DTAA, Bachelor of Social Science (Hons, Psychology) Dip. (Adult Psych), Dip. DMT (IDTIA), Registered Somatic Movement Therapist (ISMETA), Registered Psychotherapist (PACFA), Professional Member (ANZAP, AASPDip). Sandra has worked in private practice for 20+ years. She specializes in working with personality disorders, chronic pain, trauma, anxiety/depression, and grounds her movement work in Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and her psychological framework in Self-Psychology (Kohut). She teaches LMA and Bartenieff Fundamentals (BFs) as well as Developmental Issues for the Grad. Dip. (Dance Therapy & Counselling) at the Wesley Institute, Sydney; develops LMA and BF workshops and training for particular populations and specialties, and lectures in self- psychology for Empathink Melbourne. She supervises a number of psychotherapists and dance therapists, and provides supervision by phone for Dance Movement Therapists who are not in the ACT area.
Geographic areas of work preference: Canberra & Queanbeyan.
Tel: 02 6285 3697 Mob: 0407 248 323 Email: slauf@netspeed.com.au
New South Wales:
Juliette Kirkwood, Prof. Member DTAA, Bachelor Applied Science, Grad Dip Dance Movement Therapy, ongoing supervised practice, has had extensive experience in running groups in a psychiatric hospital setting. Her areas of specialty are in adult mental health including but not limited to psychiatric disorders, women’s mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, and trauma. She can offer student placement in a psychiatric hospital setting. Juliette has lectured at Wesley Institute for the past five years teaching in the Graduate Diploma of Dance/Movement Therapy. She is also an experienced belly dancer and works in both groups and on an individual basis to explore feminine issues through the belly dance art form. Juliette is available for both group work and individual therapy. Geographic areas for work; Sydney metropolitan area.
Mob: 0423 698 587 Email: jdance332@optusnet.com.au
Helen Clarke Lapin, Prof. Member DTAA, Masters Dance/Movement Therapy (App.Psych.) Antioch University, USA, Masters in Occupational Therapy, Sydney University, Yoga Teacher, IYTA. Currently working in the public health system in the area of child and family community health, her work incorporates dance-movement therapy, sensory integration and the DIR Floortime approach. She runs a weekly ‘Mothers and Babies Moving Together’ group for mothers with depression.
Email: movingterrain@pacific.net.au
Lillian Thio-Kaplan, Doctorate candidature (presently), Prof. Member DTAA, Cert IV in Training & Assessment, Adv Dip Business Mgmt, Grad. Dip. Dance Therapy, Cert IV Massage, M. Ed. (Sp.Ed.), MA. Theo.(Phil), BA. Bible-Theo (Spore & Texas), Dip. Arts & Design (Spore), American Social Dancing and Aged Care Quality Assessment Course. Lillian is a consultant providing dance therapy in Singapore, and working with children in dance & music; private therapy sessions in Australia; trainer for accredited courses in Aged Care & Dementia Essentials; and a speaker for corporate training. She has been involved in aged care since 2000, specializing in her work with the Jewish Holocaust survivors, research work with hearing-impaired and cochlear implant children. She combines different modalities in her approach in the treatment of her clients. Has her own private practice and available for DMT supervision.
Mob: 0468 733 060 Email: info@iexpress2explore.com Web: www.iexpress2explore.com
Blog: iexpress2explore.blogspot.com Facebook: iexpress2explore
Queensland:
Beatrice Lucas, Prof. Member DTAA and PACFA Reg. M.Ed. (Melb.Uni), Grad.Dip. Movement/Dance (Melb.Uni), B.A. (Ed.) (Deakin), Dip. Teaching (Switz.), Dip. Dance/Movement Therapy (IDTIA, Melb.), also holds a Diploma in Professional Counselling, and Certificates in Emotional Release Counselling (ERC) for Children and Adolescents, and in Solution-Focussed Therapy. Beatrice has extensive experience in using dance therapy with children who have ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), learning difficulties, and psychiatric disorders. She has also worked with adults in psychiatric care, and with women exploring feminine themes in mythology through dance and the arts, and takes a special interest in indigenous dance. Beatrice has tutored and supervised interstate IDTIA Certificate and Diploma students since 2004. Contact details: P.O. Box 297, Trinity Beach QLD 4879.
Tel: 07 4057 5217 (A/H), 07 4039 9213 (W) Mob: 0413 155 146 Email: beatrice236@gmail.com
South Australia
Honorary Professional Member:
Mary Builth - more details
Tasmania:
Tracey Nicholson, Prof. Member DTAA, B. Ed, Dip Dance-Movement Therapy, Level 4 Pilates Practitioner Certification, Grad Cert in Pilates-based Rehabilitation.
Areas of specialty include adolescents with intellectual disabilities, eating disorders and behavioural problems; children with anxiety disorders, chronic illness and chronic pain. Can offer placement, work experience and dance therapy supervision.
Geographic area: Hobart and surrounds
Tel: 03 6234 7200 (W) Mob: 0400 600 360 Email: pilateshouse@bigpond.com Web: www.pilateshouse.com.au
Victoria:
Sally Denning, Prof. Member DTAA, Masters in Ed (Dance Movement Therapy), Grad Dip Movement and Dance, Grad Cert Dance Therapy, Grad Cert Leadership in Education & Training, B. Ed, Certificate in Play Therapy, Certification in Choice Theory Counselling. She is also currently completing a PhD in dance movement therapy. Sally has worked with children and adolescents at risk in the education system and conducted extensive training for teachers and other professionals in the field. Currently she works full time at the Australian Childhood Foundation as a Therapeutic Specialist, working clinically with children who have experienced trauma and abuse. Sally has also worked with children with Down Syndrome, adults with MS, depression and those who wish to discover more about themselves. Previously, Sally worked for 14 years as a professional belly dancer and since retiring from this role has, on occasions, applied belly dance as a tool within some of her dance movement therapy sessions.
Mob: 0412 824 852 Email: sdenning@childhood.org.au
Anna Ganz, Prof. member DTAA, B.A. (Psych), Dip Primary Teaching, Grad Dip Movement and Dance, (University of Melbourne), Grad Dip in Arts Education (RMIT), Dip. Dance Therapy (IDTIA), is active in the DTAA as convenor of the Professional Membership Committee and the DTAA’s member representative for all PACFA business. Anna's main area of expertise as a dmt is with children and adolescents in special school settings, especially children with autism, mild intellectual disability and behavioural problems. Anna currently works as a dance therapist at Emerson School in Dandenong and is available for supervision in her areas of specialty.
Tel: AH 03 9470 2673 Email: anna@dtaa.org.au
Bella Grossberg, Prof. Member DTAA, Dip DMT (IDTIA), Counselling course, Feldenkrais accredited practitioner, has specialist expertise in populations that include Autistic children, intellectually disabled adults, and psychiatric adults. Bella conducts workshops called 'Dance for Healing' and runs a private practice from home for normal 'neurotic' population. She also offers supervision.
Preferred geographic areas: Malvern, Prahran, Caulfield, St. Kilda
Tel: 03 9576 2644 Mob: 0408 308 854 Email: pgberg@bigpond.com
Jane Guthrie, Prof. Member DTAA, MCSP; B.App.Sc (Phty); M. Ed; Grad. Dips. Movement and Dance and Rehabilitation Studies, Dance Therapy Cert. (Madden Grove Foundation), and Certified Movement Analyst (CMA), is a Physiotherapist who uses dance therapy in physical rehabilitation. She specialised in application with traumatic head injury, is experienced in all areas of physical rehabilitation, pain management, application in permanent care hospital wards, Day Activity Hospitals and Centres, and with children with special needs, Jane is active in the professional association, the DTAA of which she is the current president, has lectured in Laban Movement Analysis in the dance therapy courses offered at RMIT. She can offer supervision, particularly related to dmt with neurological problems and application of LMA and the Bartenieff Fundamentals from a developmental perspective.
Tel: 03 9592 4017 Email: jguthrie@alphalink.com.au
Jennifer Helmich, Prof. Member DTAA, Grad. Dip. Movement and Dance, Dip. Dance Therapy (IDTIA), M.A. Creative Arts Therapy (La Trobe), is Accredited as a Grief and Loss counsellor (NALAG), Midwife and practicing Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Jennifer has worked in a Psychiatric Clinic as a dance therapist, specialising in Trauma related areas and is a member of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (VIc). She is interested in supervising dance therapists on trauma related issues. Jennifer is a Coordinator of IDTIA Dance Therapy Training in Melbourne.
Tel: 03 9439 8007 Email: Jennifer.helmich1@bigpond.com
Heather Hill, PhD, Prof. Member DTAA, M.Ed., B.A., Grad. Dip. Movement and Dance, Grad. Cert. Dance Therapy, is experienced in aged care, aged psychiatry/dementia, acute psychiatry and intellectual disability. She has written many articles and book chapters, as well as the book "Invitation to the Dance: Dance for people with dementia and their carers", now in its second edition. Heather has expertise in the application of dance therapy in dementia and she has a particular interest in fostering dance therapy practice in this area. She is also interested in fostering dance therapy writing and research. Heather currently supervises dance therapists and creative arts therapists in their practice and research. She practices dance therapy and works as a consultant trainer/facilitator in person-centred care in dementia.
Tel: 03 9730 1248 Email: heatherhill@hotkey.net.au
Maeve Larkin, Prof. Member DTAA, B. Ed (Victoria College) Dip. DMT (IDTIA), has a background in dance teaching with children and adults. Maeve is currently working as a dance therapist with adults with intellectual disability and in aged care and with the frail elderly with dementia in NE Victoria.
Tel: 03 5767 2323 Mob: 04055 64985 Email: m.larkin@activ8.net.au
Elizabeth Loughlin, Prof. Member DTAA Member, Aus Ass. Social Workers, Dip. Dance Therapy (IDTIA), M. A. Creative Arts in Therapy (La Trobe), B.Litt Hons (Performing Arts) (Deakin) also has a background in psychology and social work. Elizabeth works as a dance therapist at the Austin hospital in both the inpatient and outpatient setting with mothers who have post natal depression or other psychiatric conditions and their vulnerable infants, She is dance therapist at the Albert Road Clinic private psychiatric hospital in the day program with mothers recovering from depression, and their infants. Elizabeth also uses creative interventions with children/ adolescents/ young women with chronic health conditions at the Royal Childrens Hospital . Approaches to dance therapy include psychodynamic and phenomenological /expressive/ body image. She teaches dance therapy at the IDTIA, Creative dance at Lieto Dance studio, and offers dance therapy supervision.
Tel: 03 9482 9312 Email: loughlin@clari.net.au
Bouthaina Mayall, Prof member DTAA, Dip. Dance Movement Therapy (IDTIA), B.Sc., Hons (Biochemistry), Dip.Ed. Therapeutic Touch practitioner. Her areas of dance therapy experience are in aged care, dementia, children with disabilities and autism. Bouthaina runs dance-movement therapy groups in aged care facilities for residents with varying needs including dementia. She is familiar with the aged care system and can help create programs to meet continuous improvement standards. She also works on a one to one basis with clients, conducts workshops and is interested in assisting people enjoy living in their bodies.
She is based in Kew, and works in Surrey Hills, Thornbury and Mordiallic.
Mob: 0428 270 399 Email: bouthaina@netspace.net.au
Linda Murrow, Prof. Member DTAA, M.A. is originally from the United States where she completed a Master's in Expressive Arts Therapy and became a registered dance movement therapist, subsequently completing postgraduate training in family therapy and specialist training in couple therapy. Currently she works for Relationships Australia as a counsellor and as a member of their professional education and training team, lectures in counselling and arts therapy at the Phoenix Institute of Victoria, and maintains a private practice. She has a longstanding interest in Jungian psychology and the practice of 'authentic movement', offering in-depth individual and group work. Linda has taught dance-movement therapy at Melbourne University and co-developed the Master of Creative Arts Therapy and the Graduate Diploma of Dance Movement Therapy at RMIT University. Linda has a particular interest in supervision.
To inquire about therapy, supervision, or 'authentic movement' contact:
Mob: 0421 999 839 Email: lindamurrow@aapt.net.au.
Fran Ostroburski, Prof. Member DTAA, B.A.(Mon) Dip.Soc.Studs (Melb) Dip. Dance-Movt Therapy (IDTIA) AYTTC (yoga) is a trained social worker and dance therapist. She teaches creative dance for adults and pre-natal yoga at Mangala Studios. She has worked as a dance therapist at Connections, Uniting Care with disadvantaged families for 20 years specializing in primary treatment with children. She facilitates a group with the frail elderly at Munzer community residence and is in private practice.
Fran teaches in the IDTIA Certificate Training Course and supervises students in the Advanced Diploma Course. She also teaches in the Mangala Studios Teaching Creative Dance Diploma Course. Fran works in the Melbourne metro region, and can offer supervision and student placements.
Mob: 0409 213 640 Email: frandance@bigpond.com
Jane Refshauge, Prof. member DTAA, BA Psych, MFA Performance NYU, Adv.Dip. DMT IDTIA, MAPS, AUSTAT, STAT, PACFA reg., has specialist expertise in the areas of psychology with adults in private practice with DMT, and is also experienced with adolescent behaviour difficulties. Jane is a registered Psychologist, Alexander Technique teacher and dance movement therapist. She has a background in the performing arts and psychology. She has studied, performed and taught dance and movement disciplines that have developed from the premise that the body is a “psycho-physical unity”, working within professional dance studios, performance venues, tertiary and secondary educational institutions, and psychiatric hospital settings.
Preferred areas to work are inner Melbourne.
Tel: 03 9419 2484 Email: jref@pacific.net.au
International
New Zealand
E, Connor Kelly, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
New Plymouth, New Zealand, 4310
Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy New York University(USA), Board Certified Dance Movement Therapist (USA), Licensed Professional Counselor (Colorado, USA)
Over 30 years in the field of dance/movement therapy including indepth knowledge and practice of authentic movement, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Physical Storytelling. Based in New Plymouth, New Zealand with a consulting and private practice offers therapy, supervision, and training. workshops Additionally volunteer as a La Leche League Leader for more than 16 years assisting mothers and families/whanua with babies and young children. Am available for skype supervision
Tel: +64 6 7695661, Mobile +64 02 7490 9729, Email: steve-connor@xtra.co.nz