[Adta] Fw: Registered Somatic Movement Therapists

[Leslie Best]

I sent this to Lora and she suggested I forward for the whole listserve.

Leslie

-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: Leslie Best <labestnlife at earthlink.net>
>Sent: Dec 2, 2007 1:52 PM
>To: Lora Wilson <writelora at hotmail.com>
>Subject: Registered Somatic Movement Therapists
>
>Lora, et. al.,
>
>If you look up "registered somatic movement therapist" on Google, you will see some websites which discuss training and foundations of this profession.  Clearly there is an overlap to DMT with the focus on Bartienieff, Body Mind Centering and Laban. If you look at the ISMETA website, you will see a collaboration of organizations which focus on very specific movement and body work training.  My opinion is that they are able to focus on the kinesthetic process for psychiatrically stable pts. whose ego-strength allows them to explore the creative/movement process safely.  (I imagine there is a whole history re: the choice to name this profession "somatic movement therapy" because it so clearly reflects our professional name and confuses training focus and requirements.)  While I believe they have great value-especially as their techniques are integrated within dmt training, standing alone, I don't believe they they have adequate training to fill a dmt position.  DMTs are trained in the full range of psychiatric stability/instability and we use a variety of techniques not just one. I personally tend to be protective of this territory especially in CA because of the concern BBS and other players have about DMT as having appropriate clinical training with psychiatric populations.  Clearly, if you look at our training program curriculums, we have it. I have copied language below from one of their websites and I think the language stated re: professional goals, objectives and training remains farely vague for the typical mental health venue.    
>
>From ISMETA:
>"In the interest of the public and the profession as a whole, an ISMETA registered practitioner practices only after professional preparation. This consists, at a minimum, of the completion of a 500-hour ISMETA-approved training program or an approved alternative route of education, demonstration of 150 hours of professional practice, and consequent acceptance to ISMETA as a Registered Somatic Movement Educator (ISMETA-RSME) and/or Therapist (ISMETA-RSMT). It is advised that all ISMETA registered practitioners engage in on-going professional development."
>
>Your hospital/employer needs to be educated for their own interests on institutional licensing requirements and the legal practice standards when hiring any professionals working under their organizational license.
>
>That's my opinion from a jobs perspective, but I am interested in hearing from others about the history and differentiation that others see.
>
>If you want to talk more give me a call.
>
>Leslie Best
>