(LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) -- The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) has granted full approval to Rider University's dance/movement therapy (DMT) program, which is a concentration within the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With this approval, Rider becomes one of only seven ADTA-approved programs in the United States.

"Receiving approval is a significant milestone for our students, providing them with a robust and recognized credential that enhances their professional opportunities," says Dr. Eri Millrod, an assistant professor and the director of Rider’s DMT concentration.

Dance/movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote the emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of individuals. By offering non-verbal avenues for self-knowledge, self-expression, healing and growth, DMT aims to improve the mental health and well-being of clients with diverse conditions.

“As a profession that works with clients experiencing mental illness, addictions, trauma and various disabilities, dance/movement therapy is highly regulated to ensure public safety,” says Millrod.

With this full approval, graduates of Rider's program earn the entry-level credential of registered dance/movement therapist, the first step toward becoming a board-certified dance/movement therapist. They can enter the field as professionals with confidence, knowing that they graduated from a program that meets ADTA’s highest standards for DMT education.

Launched in 2019, the DMT concentration is unique in that it is part of a counseling program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The only CACREP-accredited program in the country to offer a concentration in DMT, it also meets the educational requirements for several professional credentials, including licensed professional counselor and registered dance movement therapist.

Students in the DMT concentration complete 65 credits of coursework and 950 hours of fieldwork before graduating. Additionally, qualified Rider undergraduate dance or psychology majors have the option to pursue their Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in dance/movement therapy on an accelerated path.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Eri Millrod/Rider University