Dance/Movement Therapy & the Counseling Profession

Dance/Movement Therapy Recognized as Counseling Specialty

The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) has recognized dance/movement therapy as a specialty of counseling since 1998. The Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) advanced credential is recognized by NBCC and ADTA as the appropriate counseling specialty credential in dance/movement therapy.

This credential identifies readiness to teach, supervise, and work in private practice for credentialed individuals. Through a special arrangement between ADTA and NBCC, those at the BC-DMT level who hold a minimum of a master’s degree in a mental health profession are eligible to sit for the NCE (National Counselor Examination), administered by the NBCC. With passing scores on the NCE, one can apply for the NCC (National Certified Counselor) credential from the NBCC. The NCE is also used by many states for counseling licensure. Go to NBCC for more information.

ADTA offers the National Counselor Exam each year at the Annual Conference, and ADTA is an NBCC approved provider of continuing education for counselors.

Dance Therapy Recognized as a Counseling Specialty, Leslie Armeniox, The National Certified Counselor, 2000, 17(1).