Licensure and Certifications Demystified

Dance/movement therapists are very educated people. We know from the ADTA website that to be a DTR or ADTR, alternate route students must have a master's degree (MS, MA, MEd) in a related field, but are other certifications necessary? Here are a few credentials dance therapists commonly have:

NCC. National Board for Certified Counselors.
MFT. Marriage Family Therapist.
LCSW. Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
LCAT. Licensed Creative Arts Therapist.
MSW. Master of Social Work.
CMA. Certified Movement Analyst.
LMHC. Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
LPC. Licensed Professional Counselor.
LMA. Laban Movement Analyst.

Somatic Movement Therapists also have a wide range of possible certifications and licensing, including:

ISMETA. International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association.
REAT. Registered Expressive Arts Therapist.
RSMT. Registered Somatic Movement Therapist.
SMTT. Somatic Movement Therapy Training.

How is one supposed to choose what organization(s) they want to register with when there's all these possibilities? Very confusing, indeed!

Here in California, DMTs are not considered licensed therapists like they are in other states. The California Coalition for Counselor Licensure, or CCCL, is working with dance therapists to pass legislation to make dance/movement therapy . To learn more and to sign up for updates on licensure, visit their website.

If you want to become a licensed therapist in California, you will need your MFT (Marriage Family Therapist) license additionally to DMT alternate route work, OR you may want to get a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology.

Good luck in your decision making!