Christina Devereaux headshot

Contact Info

Email: cdevereaux [at] rider.edu

Phone Number: 609-896-5331

Department: Graduate Education, Leadership and Counseling

Office Location: Bierenbaum Fisher Hall 202K

Additional Info:

Academic Focus: Dance/Movement Therapy

Academic Background

  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology, Santa Barbara Graduate Institute
  • M.A. in Dance/Movement Therapy, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Dance, Kent State University

Certification/Licensure

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, #PC016125 (PA)
  • Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, #000993-1 (NY)
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor, #003559-1 (NY)
  • Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, #BC-DMT-887
  • National Certified Counselor, #82875 

Professional Background and Research

I have 25 years of experience working in the field of mental health nationally and internationally as a therapist, educator, supervisor, consultant, and trainer in dance/movement therapy and counseling specializing in autism spectrum disorders, complex trauma, perinatal mental health, and group dynamics and processes. Prior to arriving at Rider, as Assistant Professor in Department of Education, Leadership, and Counseling for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Dance/Movement Therapy Concentration, I held leadership positions for other university programs including Associate Clinical Professor and Program Director for the Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA program at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and Program Director for the Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA program at Antioch University New England (Keene, NH). Internationally I am on the program faculty at DMT training programs in China, Belgium, and New Zealand. I served two terms as co-editor of the American Journal of Dance Therapy and was a two-time President’s Award recipient from the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) for contributions to the profession.

My research interests focus on dance/movement therapy with children with autism spectrum disorders and complex trauma, supervisory practices, and the use of simulation in evaluating embodied skills in clinical competencies.

Selected Publications

  • Devereaux, C. (2024). Dance/movement therapy for infants and young children with medical illness: Treating somatic and psychic distress: by Suzi Tortora and Miri Keren, New York, NY, Routledge, 2023, 224 pp., £23.99 (paperback), £96.00 (hardback), £23.99 (ebook). ISBN: 9780367352608. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 19(4), 412–415.
  • Gleason, A., Devereaux, C., & Matchullis, R. (2023). Perspectives on social engagement during short-term dance/movement therapy groups within an integrated special education classroom In. S. Aithal & V. Karkou (Eds.). Arts Therapies for persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder- Bridging Research and Practice. (pp. 41-54) Routledge.
  • Devereaux, C. & Harrison, L. (2022). Body, Brain, and Relationship: Dance/movement therapy with children with complex trauma. In A.M. Melsom & R. Hartwell (Eds.). Dance/Movement Therapy and Trauma (pp. 83-100) Routledge.
  • Devereaux, C. (2019). Creative Arts Counselor: Dance/movement therapist spotlight. In S. Hodges (Ed.). 101 Careers in counseling 2nd Edition (pp. 193-195). Springer.
  • Devereaux, C. (2019). Book Review: Essentials of Dance Movement Psychotherapy: International Perspectives on Theory, Research and Practice, American Journal of Dance Therapy, 41(1), 136–140. doi 10.1007/s10465-019-09301-x
  • Devereaux, C. (2017). An interview with Dr. Stephen W. Porges. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 39(1), 29-35.
  • Devereaux, C. (2017). An interview with Dr. C. Sue Carter. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 39(1), 19-26.
  • Devereaux, C. (2017). Neuroception and attunement in dance/movement therapy with autism, American Journal of Dance Therapy 39(1), 36-38. doi: 10.1007/s10465-017-9249-1
  • Devereaux, C. (2017). Educator perceptions of the inclusion of dance/movement therapy within the special education classroom. Body, Movement, and Dance in Psychotherapy, 12, 50-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2016.1238011
  • Devereaux, C. (2014). Moving in the space between us: The dance of attachment security. In C. Malchiodi & D. Crenshaw (Eds.) Creative Arts and Play Therapy for Attachment Problems (pp. 84-99). Guilford Press.

Selected Presentations

  • Kawano, T., Fontanesi, C., Allen, L. Blanc, V., Millrod, E., Devereaux, C., Cruz, R. Barnstaple, R., Stewart, C. (2024, October). Online Synchronous vs In-Person Learning: Preliminary Explorations by the Education Committee and Research & Practice Committee. Panel Presentation for 59th American Dance Therapy Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Devereaux, C., Wittig, J., Plevin, M., Govoni, R.M., Acarón,T.,  Zhou, T., Shen, K., Chan, M. Dzyubak, U. (2023, March 11). Western Teachers, Chinese Students: How Shall We Meet? [Panel Presentation] World Arts and Embodiment Forum, Dance Therapy and Movement Therapy Summit.
  • Devereaux, C. & Goodill, S. (2022, October). Person to Person: DMT Competency Evaluation through Encounters in the Standardized Patient Lab. 57th Annual American Dance Therapy Association Conference. Montreal, Canada.
  • Devereaux, C. & Harrison, L. (2022, October). Clinical supervision as a restorative practice during a time of collective stress.  57th Annual American Dance Therapy Association Conference. Montreal, Canada.
  • Devereaux, C. & Goodill. S. (2022, April 29). Replicating Reality: Embodied Clinical Competencies with Standardized Patient Actors.  Simulation Conference, Drexel University. [virtual].
  • Devereaux, C. (2021, January 28). Global Dancing in the Covid-19 crisis: Drexel Dance/Movement Therapy Program Hosts First Ever Global Student Day. Spotlight on Global Engagement. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
  • Devereaux, C. (2020, February 22). Mind-Body Approaches to Trauma Intervention: A Polyvagal Perspective. Healing on the Horizon, Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association 2020 Trauma Symposium. Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Devereaux, C. (2020, July 18). Dance/Movement Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorders: The moving relationship [Online Webinar] Sponsored by Le Grands Ballet National Dance Therapy Center of Canada.
  • Devereaux, C. (2020, June 6). The Body’s Expression of Safety in a Global Pandemic: Dancing the language of the nervous system [Online Webinar] Sponsored by Le Grands Ballet National Dance Therapy Center of Canada
  • Devereaux, C. (2020, July).  Trauma, Autism, & Dance/Movement Therapy: A Polyvagal Perspective. Agape Academy, Belgium.
  • Devereaux, C. (2019, August 9-11).  Trauma, Autism, & Dance/Movement Therapy: A Polyvagal Perspective. Agape Academy, Belgium.
  • Devereaux, C., & Kaufman, G. (2019, October). Holding the Holder: Diversity, Disparities, and the Dance in Perinatal Mental Health. Presented at American Dance Therapy Association Annual Conference, Miami, FL.
  • Devereaux, C. (2018, April). Moving through Trauma: Dance/Movement Therapy as a Neural Exercise. Defining Trauma and Resilience Conference. Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.
  • Devereaux, C. (2017, April). Social Engagement, Dance/Movement Therapy, and Autism: A Polyvagal Perspective. New England Chapter of American Dance Therapy Association Conference. Keene, NH.
  • Carter, C. S., Devereaux, C., Gray, A. E., & Homman, K., & Porges, S. (2016, October). Polyvagal-informed therapy for trauma, attachment and autism. Invited interdisciplinary dialogue with Stephen Porges and Sue Carter. American Dance Therapy Association National Conference, Bethesda, MD.
  • Devereaux, C. (2016, October). Social Engagement, Dance/Movement Therapy, and Autism: A Polyvagal Perspective. Invited seminar. American Dance Therapy Association National Conference, Bethesda, MD.
  • Devereaux, C. (2015, October). The Autism Puzzle: Where is the dance/movement therapy piece? Invited half day intensive seminar. American Dance Therapy Association National Conference, La Jolla, California.
  • Devereaux, C. (2015, March). Who supervises the supervisor? A forum for seasoned and new supervisors. Presented at New England Chapter of Dance/Movement Therapy Conference, Antioch University New England, Keene, NH.
  • Devereaux, C. (2014, October 24). Trends in Autism Research and Intervention: Where does DMT fit in the picture? [Webinar] In American Dance Therapy Association Webinar Series.
  • Devereaux, C., Erfer, T., Erhardt, B., Miller, J., Plevin, M., Robinson, N., & Wittig, J. (2013, October). Emerging Cross-Cultural Consciousness: American DMTs teaching in China. Presented at American Dance Therapy Association Annual Conference, Brooklyn, NY.

Awards

  • 2017, 2008 President’s Award, American Dance Therapy Association 
  • 2015 Semi-finalist “Ed”ies New Hampshire Outstanding Educator –Higher Education
  • 2011-2017 Co-Editor, American Journal of Dance Therapy
  • 2013 Inducted into the Hall of Honor, Fairborn City Schools, Fairborn, OH

Professional Membership

  • American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)
  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH)
  • Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society (EGPS)
  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
  • Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association (PAADTA)

Courses Taught

  • CNDT 620 Clinical Applications of Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy
  • CNDT 584 Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy Practicum I
  • CNDT 585 Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy Practicum II
  • CNDT 791 Clinical Consultation in Dance/Movement Therapy II
  • COUN 550 Counseling and Helping Techniques Laboratory