Maria Yerolemou

Dance Movement Psychotherapist

Maria Yerolemou studied (BA Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies and then completed her postgraduate studies in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at the University of Derby in England.

During her studies she carried out clinical work in schools and a therapeutic arts center in Derby where she worked with children and adolescents with special needs.

She also worked with groups of teenagers with special needs, children and the elderly at Deda in Derby, a creative dance and movement center with the aim of improving people’s quality of life through dance. For the last two years she worked in a primary school as a support person for children with special needs.

Her purpose as a dance therapist is to create a safe space in which individuals feel encouraged to express their authentic self in a process of personal development.

Specialization

Dance Psychotherapy

Dance Therapy or Dance Movement Psychotherapy is defined as the psychotherapeutic use of movement through which a person can creatively participate in a process that promotes emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration.

Dance therapy, in addition to speech, also uses body movement as an important mean of expression since it is based on the principle that movement reflects the way of thinking and feeling of the individual.

Dance therapy helps restore communication between the unconscious and conscious part of ourselves. The body expresses through movement feelings that we are often unable to describe in words. Within a safe therapeutic environment the individual is helped to express himself/herself with the professional support and guidance of the dance therapist. The dance therapist encourages the individual to connect movement expression with verbal understanding.

A fundamental principle of Dance Therapy is the creation of a relationship of trust and acceptance between the therapist and the client. Dance Therapy does not require one to have dancing skills. Dance therapy is aimed at a wide range of people, of various ages and abilities. It is applied individually and/or in groups.