Dance/Movement Therapy & Autism: Dances of Relationship
Channel: American Dance Therapy Association
Date: 2014-04-02

"The major strength that dance/movement therapy has in working with people with autism is its ability to produce treatment outcomes in the area of social relatedness, especially in the formation of relationships."  - Dr. Christina Devereaux

Christina Devereaux, PhD, LCAT, LMHC, BC-DMT, NCC serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling program at Antioch University New England where she formulated the first ever dance/movement therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorders Study Group.  In addition she is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Pratt Institute in the Department of Creative Arts Therapy and is on the faculty at Inspirees, a training program for dance/movement therapy in China.

Christina received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology from The Santa Barbara Graduate Institute where her research emphasis was on mothers' experiences in early interaction with their children who developed autism. She received her Master's Degree in dance/movement therapy from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has extensive clinical experience with a variety of populations including children with severe emotional disturbance, autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, victims of abuse and neglect, families in crisis, adults with mental illness and dual diagnosis, and supporting healthy attachment for mother/infant dyads. 

In 2008, she was the recipient of the President's Award from the American Dance Therapy Association for her outstanding contributions to the profession.  

Christina has presented nationally and internationally on topics such as the dance of attachment relationships, dance/movement therapy with autism, trauma and the body, and clinical writing.  Christina has published articles in the American Journal of Dance Therapy and the Journal of Dance Education and has authored book chapters about dance/movement therapy and autism and with attachment problems.  She was featured on CCTV, the largest television station in China focusing on dance/movement therapy and autism and has been featured in numerous media publications and radio shows.  She has a blog with Psychology Today "Meaning in motion: Dancing with the mind in mind."