The number of displaced people in the world has surged to more than 50 million for the first time since World War II. In this webinar we explore the unique needs and issues facing those displaced by violence: refugees and survivors of torture arriving to the United States (many of whom are seeking asylum,) and those still living overseas in refugee and IDP camps. Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is presented as a cross culturally adaptable treatment approach that facilitates a restorative process for those who have lost everything in their flight from persecution. This webinar touches on the potential for DMT to become a best practice treatment, based on current research on trauma and the body, and the increasing demand for global mental health. Examples of actual DMT work with this community are shared; information is adaptable and relevant to those working with survivors of other forms of interpersonal, violent and relational trauma, especially across cultures.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will learn about the unique themes and issues informing the mental health needs that face people displaced by war and human rights abuses.

2. Participants will learn about a body and DMT-based conceptual paradigm for mental health treatment with survivors of human rights abuses.

3. Participants will learn a specific approach to using DMT in the treatment of adult refugees and survivors of human rights abuse. 

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0 ADTA CE, 1.0 NBCC CE, 1.0 NY LCAT CE

Presenter Bio:

Amber Elizabeth Gray, PhD, BC-DMT is a long-time human rights activist and pioneer in the use of Dance/Movement Therapy with survivors of trauma, particularly torture, war, and human rights abuses. She is an ADTA Outstanding Achievement Award recipient; a recent nominee for The Barbara Chester Human Rights award, and featured expert on torture treatment through Tulane University’s Institute of Traumatology. Amber’s expertise is represented in many published articles, chapters, keynote addresses, professional collaborations and presentations around the world. Amber has provided clinical training on the integration of refugee mental health and torture treatment with creative arts, mindfulness, and body-based therapies to more than 30 programs worldwide. She is the originator of Polyvagal-informed Dance/Movement and Soma-Movement Therapies, developed over 20+ years of immersion in The Polyvagal Theory, and Restorative Movement Psychotherapy, a resiliency-based framework and clinical approach for somatic, mindfulness and dance/movement therapies with refugees and survivors of torture war trauma.

Original Webcast Date: 1/28/2015