ARBN 633105736

Susan Kierr

Susan Kierr – Bio


Edition:

Susan Kierr (Wise) ADTR, NCC, studied DMT at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has contributed to the dance movement therapy field for over 30 years. She did pioneering work at the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn, MA, USA, where she supervised dozens of interns and practicing DMTs, (including Linda Murrow). Susan’s effective use of DMT with people who are paralyzed is documented in an article published by the American Journal of Dance Therapy, “Therapy for Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries,” vol 4 no 1.  Susan has served on the Board of the ADTA, and on the ADTA Credentialing Committee, where she chaired the DTR and ADTR subcommittees, helping to steer the credentialing process toward international applications. Now living and working in New Orleans, LA, USA, Susan has established the use of DMT in schools and hospitals. She has a private practice and conducts groups at Tulane University’s mental health hospital, and public elementary school aftercare program.

A day in the life of a Dance Therapist


Edition: 2005 Vol. 4 No. 3

Keywords
professional development, school after care, private practice, hospitals, natural disasters, career advice

This is an excerpt from the content:

“We saved an email response from Susan, to a query from someone unsure about their future career directions – but wanting dance to be a part of it. The email was sent to the American Dance Therapy Association’s (ADTA) list serve in 2004. The reply is quite special and reflects how many of us feel about being dance movement therapists.” Susan writes about her evolving professional journey as a DMT. The article commences with reference to her diverse publications and her research into the effectiveness of an after-school program offering DMT. Her email response touches on her challenges and being affect by Hurricanes, as well as her joy and gratitude in her chosen profession. (pp 7-8)

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A day in the life of a Dance Therapist


Edition: 2005 Vol. 4 No. 3

Keywords
private practice, professional development, DMT professional identity, DMT settings, after-school care, mental health

This is an expert from the content written by the Editors:

“We saved an email response from Susan, to a query from someone unsure about their future career directions – but wanting dance to be a part of it. The email was sent to the American Dance Therapy Association’s (ADTA) listserve last year. The reply is quite special and reflects how many of us feel about being dance movement therapists.” (pp 7-8)

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“Sit Down, Be Quiet” – A Study of the Effectiveness of Dance/Movement Therapy in an After-School Program


Edition: 2005 Vol. 4 No. 1

Keywords
After-school care, attention getting behaviour, dance movement therapy, education interventions, humanistic psychology

This is an excerpt from the content:

This is an evidenced based research project. The research measured the effects of a dance movement therapy intervention in an after-school care program. The intervention was a therapeutic contract between teacher, dance movement therapist, and first grade students. The number of disciplinary interactions was measured and graphed. The study was designed to compare the number of disciplinary interactions in the classroom when there was no contract, year one, and when there was a contract, year two. A humanistic psychology theoretical framework was used, a model of health rather than pathology, focusing on using the therapeutic contract to increase a sense of safety, support, belonging and intimacy. The study shows that disciplinary interactions decreased dramatically. It is recommended that the study be used to illustrate the use of dance movement therapy in the growing after-school care industry. (pp 2-7)

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Dance/ Movement Therapy in Rehabilitation Medicine


Edition: 2003 Vol. 2 No. 1

Keywords
Dance therapy rehabilitation, hospital care, paraplegia, physical trauma, dance therapy treatment, patient evaluation

Chances of surviving an illness or accident have improved greatly, encouraging physicians and health professionals to re-assess quality of life post-incident. This article examined recovery from the psychophysical effects of physical trauma in an individual study on dance therapy treatment. Symptoms assessed by a detailed patient evaluation were deteriorating health and morbidity. The subsequent case study of a patient in hospital care illustrated the dance therapy methods for paraplegia. The methods were grounded in theory, specifically grief and attachment theories. The article concludes by outlining the role a dance therapist plays in a rehabilitation team on the ward and a postscript was written by one of the author’s interns. (pp 9-16)

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