Anaia Treefoot AThR
Registered Arts Therapist ANZATA
Dance Movement Therapist
MAAT (Clinical) (Hons), BA
Anaia has a Masters of Clinical Arts Therapy from Whitecliffe College, and works as a Dance Movement Therapist and as an Arts Therapist, with children, young people and adults. Her Professional background includes working with children with special needs including neurological disorders such as Autism; Paediatric Cancer Patients; Women; Teens with Eating Disorders and young children and their parents.
In addition to her Masters Degree, Anaia has completed extensive International training in Authentic Movement, Laban/Bartenieff, Soul MotionTM Dance, The 5 RhythmsTM, Halprin Life/Art Process, Mindfulness Practice and Gestalt Awareness Practice.
Anaia also completed a year of intensive Dance Movement Therapy Training in New York with International Child Development Specialist, Dr. Suzi Tortora.
Dance Movement Therapy
Dance Movement Therapy is a an experiential form of psychotherapy that has been used successfully Internationally since the 1940’s in hospitals, schools, prisons, treatment centres and private practice.
The technique is based on the assumption that the body and mind are interrelated, and that changing movement patterns effects change in other areas. Dance Movement Therapy utilizes an active, client-centred approach, providing each person the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings and express themselves in an environment that is safe, supportive and uplifting, through both movement and words.
For children, the nonverbal aspect of Dance Movement Therapy supports growth and integration of motoric, perceptual-motor, verbal processing skills, cognition & communication, and social emotional development. The focus on nonverbal beaviour can help those with autism and other special needs improve socialization and communication, build body awareness, and directly affect motor deficits. Movement can provide a bridge for contact and a vehicle for communication between the dance therapist and the individual.
“If you can walk, you can dance”- Dance Movement Therapy is not just for those who enjoy movement- it is equally useful for people who don’t usually dance.
In addition to Individual sessions for Children, Young People and Adults, Anaia offers:
Social Skills & Emotional Literacy Groups for Children:
Combines creative expression (dance/movement, music, play and body awareness activities) with skill development (communication, self-regulation, motor planning and social interaction).
Parent-Child Dance Movement Therapy:
The ‘dance of relating’ between parent and child plays a huge role in the emotional and social aspects of a child’s development. Dance Movement Therapy, supported by current attachment models, can offer practical tools for enhancing or repairing this ‘dance of relating’ in a safe and playful environment.
Group Dance Movement Therapy for Adults:
Groups are offered around particular themes or issues, such as Eating Disorders, Abuse Trauma, Anxiety, Post-Natal Depression, Cancer Patients, Chronic Illness. Groups may include movement, art, mindfulness practice and verbal processing. A variety of dance movement approaches may be used depending on the theme and participants.
Professional Information
Anaia is a member of ANZATA (Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association)and an associate member of DTAA (Dance Therapy Association of Australia). She is in the process of becoming a full member of NZAC (New Zealand Association of Counsellors).
Sessions: Individual sessions for children are 30 or 50 minutes long. Adult sessions are 50-60 minutes.
Cost: Please contact to discuss your situation. Funding is sometimes available.
Contact
:
T (021) 184 9676
E info@anaiatreefoot.org
