What are the main disadvantages of training as a dance therapist/movement therapist?

After training as a dance therapist/movement therapist, you will be able to work functionally with movement and balance exercises to train breathing, posture and coordination, depending on the indication, situation and orientation. Or you can use an experience-centered, stimulating approach with materials and artistic elements to convey new sensory experiences and deepen self-awareness.

The main disadvantages of dance therapist/movement therapist training are:

1. This is not a federal qualification, but a diploma or certificate issued by the school - in some cases also the Artecura industry certificate (umbrella organization of Swiss professional associations for therapies with artistic media). Find out more about the course, the qualification and the associated professional opportunities (e.g. EMR recognition for billing health insurance companies).
2. For dance therapist/movement therapist training at certificate level, the course content and admission requirements are generally not regulated and can be determined individually by the schools. The Artecura industry certificate provides a certain degree of quality assurance. Important professional associations are EADMT (European Association Dance Movement Therapy), MITKUNST (Professional Association for Art Therapy) or GPK (Professional Association for Creative Psychotherapy and Art Therapy). Anyone who completes a recognized training course can become a member.
3. The dance therapist/movement therapist training is usually completed part-time and usually takes two to three years for a diploma course. During this time, good time management between work, study and leisure is required.
4. The training costs are very high at around CHF 26,000 or CHF 31,000 and are not subsidized by the federal government (as this is not a federal qualification). Otherwise, the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) in art therapy would have to be taken at the same time.
5. Even after completing the dance therapist/movement therapist training, the learning does not stop: If you want to be qualified to work in this field and have a federal qualification, you should ideally also take the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) (as an art therapist in movement and dance therapy with a federal diploma).

With the industry certificate as a trainer in exercise and health promotion, you can work in clinical and therapeutic facilities, counseling centers and psychological-medical practices, in schools, kindergartens, retirement homes and rehabilitation centers, for example.

Provider of a dance therapist/movement therapist training course