Cara Aubrey Gallo, M.S. BC-DMT/LCAT NYS-License 0001467-1, studied Dance Movement Therapy at Pratt Institute.  She is a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist and  New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist.  Cara is President of the NYS-Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association.  She has practiced in the field since 2004.  Additionally, she completed a two-year training in the practice of Authentic Movement in Spring 2011.  She is currently working towards her CGP (or Certification in Group Psychotherapy) through EGPS.  Ms. Gallo began her foray into dance therapy after her undergraduate studies at Hunter College in dance and psychology.  Her interest in the two modalities inspired her desire to understand the deep connection between the body and mind.  After completing her Master’s Degree training at Pratt Institute she worked at Bellevue Hospital Center.  During her tenure there her area of specialization was child, adolescent and adult psychiatry.  She worked with a wide range of children, teens and adults suffering from anxiety, attachment disorders, autism spectrum disorder bi-polar disorder, depression, pervasive developmental disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.  Ms. Gallo currently offers Dance Movement Therapy groups at The League School in Brooklyn, N.Y., the 14th Street Y through ARTS RX and is Adjunct Faculty at The College of New Rochelle.

 

Photo Credit: Cindy Davies, Enchantment Photography

 

Deniz Oktay has been employed as a Dance/Movement Therapist at Bellevue Hospital for seven years. She has enjoyed working almost exclusively with the forensic population during that time; as it has afforded her a deep understanding of the unique group dynamics at work with this population.  She published an article in the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Journal in Fall of 2010 discussing her group work and theory. Deniz earned her Master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Pratt Institute in 2004. Prior to becoming a Dance/Movement therapist, Deniz performed with several modern dance companies. She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Michigan.  She now holds the position of Vice-President on the Board of the NYS-Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association.