Brenda Naso

Brenda is a registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist (ADMP UK), Clinical Supervisor (Roehampton University) and Somatic Movement Therapist (IBMT UK). She comes from an international and eclectic professional and educational background. It was through her personal experience with a Dance Movement Psychotherapist that she decided to pursue studies in DMP and other body-oriented practices. She has over 15 years working experience in different clinical settings such as the NHS, both acute and community mental health, the charitable sector, private clinical and supervisory practice. She is currently working in NHS primary care services on an innovative body-oriented treatment for individuals diagnosed with medically unexplained symptoms.

In the context of her work in the NHS, she also provides embodied practice interventions to large teams of nurses, consultant psychiatrists, ward managers and other health professionals. She has co-created pioneering therapeutic work with occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and activity coordinators.

Brenda has extensive experience working with children and adolescents who have suffered from trauma and abuse. In the context of her work with Kids Company, she was responsible for the implementation and management of various services offered by the charity. Amongst these were the provision of clinical work, caseload management, overseeing trainee therapists in placement, line management and clinical supervision, facilitation of reflective practice for teachers and therapeutic workshops for children.

Brenda has been lecturing on the MA DMP at Goldsmiths since 2013 and has taught most modules of the course. She has been one of the course convenors of the Foundation DMP since 2015. She has presented her work at the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, PsychArt, University of Central Lancashire, Birkbeck College and the Wellcome Trust. Her international lecturing activities have taken her to Lithuania, Romania, and Spain and Greece.

Brenda is passionate about expanding the benefits and awareness of somatic and body-oriented approaches to the wider artistic and creative community. She has recently been involved in theatre performance working both as assistant director and movement coach.

Brenda is a longstanding student and practitioner of the discipline of Authentic Movement. She has been practicing and studying this discipline with Linda Hartley since 2007. She holds authentic movement circles both in London and abroad. She is also an external examiner for the Institute of Bodywork and Movement Therapy.

Publication

Naso, Brenda 2015. ‘Embodied Landscapes. E-motion XXV (1), pp. 3-4.

Academic qualifications

• Diploma in Dance Movement Psychotherapy Supervision
• MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy
• PgDip Dance Movement Psychotherapy
• PgDip Institute for Bodywork and Movement Therapy.

Research Interests

Brenda was involved in a randomized control trial funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) delivering Body Oriented Psychological Therapy for patients suffering with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. (2013) 

She is currently involved in a service evaluation project, delivering Body Oriented Psychological Therapy for patients suffering with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).