MA Drama and Movement Therapy

Year One

In Year One, Term One, you study two units. Unit One (Drama and Movement Therapy Practice) includes weekly sessions in the subjects of drama, myth, Laban, movement with touch and sound, and preparation for clinical practice. These strands combine to offer an experiential introduction to the discipline and a means for you to engage with your own process as a foundation for learning.

Unit Two (Therapy and Psychology) is seminar-based with two strands: Analytical Psychology introduces you to the core concepts of Jung’s psychology and Developmental Psychology looks at emerging developmental theory and refers to, amongst others, Winnicott and Stern. Both strands offer a theoretical framework within which to examine and critique the practice of dramatherapy and the Sesame Approach.

In Terms Two and Three, the Facilitation Practice unit includes individual and pair work in the subject strands of Myth, Laban, Drama and Movement with Touch and Sound. You will research and lead sessions both individually and collaboratively. This unit offers a substantial opportunity to develop skills in planning, practice and peer feedback. The Performing Research unit is a shared postgraduate unit, which introduces fundamentals in research, including reference to methodologies that are performative and practice-based. The Practices One and Practices Two units frame two apprenticeship placements in the spring and summer term of the first year. These are supported by on-site specialist supervision as well as weekly sessions in preparation for clinical practice and group supervision at Central.

Year Two

Year Two begins with the Sustained Independent Practice (SIP) unit, and you will undertake placement work to accumulate the required 100 sessions of client contact. Central supports you in finding placements during the second year and you are assigned an individual supervisor. You are at Central every Monday in term time in the second year for sessions in supervision, professional practice, and tutorials. In addition, Performing Research is a shared postgraduate unit, which introduces fundamentals in research, including reference to methodologies that are performative and practice-based. This begins in the spring term of the second year.

The final piece of written work is a portfolio, which includes a 7,000-word critical essay, a 4,000-word report on clinical practice and a plan for future professional development. The final assessment is a viva voce.

All clinical supervision costs are included in the course fees. You are required to be in individual therapy for the duration of the course, for which a Jungian analyst is strongly recommended. You are also required to join a dramatherapy group and complete at least 30 sessions. Please note that some of the dramatherapy groups may continue to run during the holiday periods.