Help us raise money to help support dancers’ mental health needs
The STEPPS project will provide the dance community with accessible, specialised mental health support. It will empower dance schools and dance companies in the UK and around the world to create more understanding and nurturing environments through training and educational programmes.
BUT we need your help to get up and running!
Click the button below to find out more or to donate to the STEPPS project.
My proactive Mental Health, Self-Care Workshops are created for performing arts students from the age of 13 through to professional performers. They are also suitable for those working with dancers; dance teachers, physical therapists, dance science students and also the parents of students.
The workshops can be presented in person, via videolink and new for 2021, the Help4Dancers app.
Participants will learn techniques to help them become mentally fitter and emotionally stronger, giving you greater resilence and awareness of the importance of this type of self-care.
The workshops cover ways to recognise mental health symptoms, such as anxiety, and how they relate to performers by looking at typical underlying factors and triggers, e.g. rejection. Break-out groups allow attendees to explore subjects including their relationship with food, perfectionism, social media influences and body image to enable them to see if these issues are affecting them.
More information about the proactive workshops here.
- There are times in everyone’s life when circumstances or situations such as bereavement, relationship break-downs or the pressures of every-day life leave us feeling overwhelmed. This can lead to a range of distressing symptoms such as anger, eating disorders, anxiety or depression.
- For professional performers, these problems can be magnified because of the additional demands placed on them.
- As a retired ballet dancer, who has retrained as a Psychotherapist, I believe that I have a unique understanding of the particular challenges that dancers face.
For me, it was so amazing that Terry had been a dancer as he was able to fully understand what I was going through and being able to apply the therapy from a dancer’s perspective made the process so much more reassuring as Terry already understood the pressure of the dance world and how that can affect you as a person. It made me feel less alone. Terry has helped me immensely. AL Skype.
All sessions last for 50 minutes, often a few sessions are all that are needed. We discuss this during the first session so you can decide if you want to go ahead with a course of sessions which can be weekly or monthly, for instance.
Approved therapist – Aetna Global Benefits
“I was pleased to read that you help dancers with their mental health problems. Your being able to encompass their families and those involved in their lives must, I think, play a big part in ongoing support and recovery. As an ex dancer, you are in a unique position to understand the strains and stresses of dance and performance and can draw on your personal experience to help and inspire others. I wish you continuing success with your valuable work.”
Dame Beryl Grey CH, DBE. ex Prima Ballerina of the Royal Ballet and Artistic Director London’s Festival Ballet (now ENB)
Help4Dancers® App
Our brand-new free mobile App aims to help dancers become mentally fit and emotionally strong by building resilience from the stresses and strains of dance training and performance.
Testimonials
The help he gave me has changed my life completely and I am in a very different place now. I would recommend anyone struggling with any problem to see Terry, he really can help.
Sally
Dancer
Terry changed my way of thinking and in the short time I have seen him I have benefited hugely. I am now a more confident person and have a new positive way of thinking.
MJ
Musical theatre performer
During the first few sessions the main issues had been recognised and I have never looked back. I found Terry to be most insightful and he was able to turn my thinking around remarkably quickly.
DK
Musician
I am now in a place where I am much more full of energy. My IBS has nearly gone, I feel happier and less worried about things!
Claire
Choreographer/rehearsal director
I am finally feeling “normal” and “light” and stopped all that pretending, which has helped me tremendously in all the relationships with people.
Natalia
Dancer
I cannot overstate how useful my sessions with Terry have been. My outlook on life is sunnier as a result, I am working more efficiently, and my family and friends have all noticed a huge improvement.
Paul
Musician
Terry has helped me immensely. I was extremely nervous going into counselling as I had never experienced it before and didn’t know what to expect but Terry made me feel so at ease.
AL
Dancer
Terry provided a safe space for self discovery.
After just a few sessions I felt I had shifted completely from where I was.
P.H.
Actor
Therapy has enriched my dancing life in ways I certainly did not imagine, and I look forward to more freedom in dancing every day.
J.J.
Dancer
