Child Therapist based in Prague, focusing on Early Childhood.
Individual play and expressive, movement-based therapy for children aged 2-8 years old with various conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, emotional disturbances, traumas, and developmental disorders.
My approach to therapy
My approach to therapy for children is integrative, non-directive and culture-sensitive. In my work, I connect principles of therapeutic play with movement-based approaches, to meet the specific needs of each individual client.
I work under regular supervision of Dr. Christina Devereaux, LPC, LCAT, LMHC, BC-DMT, NCC.
Feel free to read more about me and my core principles here:
I offer services in English, Czech and French at an occupational therapy center for Children Fyzio Aktiv located at Milešovská 6/1312, Prague 3.
I am collaborating with VZP insurance that offers a financial contribution to therapy for up to 500 CZK/session. For info about how to apply, feel free to contact me or click here.
Child Therapist: Who am I?
Mgr. Jana Markova, M.S., R-DMT
- Mental Health Clinician formed at Pratt Institute, NYC,specializing in Early Childhood
- Professional member of the Czech Association for Psychotherapy (ČAP)
- Dance/Movement Therapist registered by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)
Originally from Prague, I spent long 11 years of my life abroad. After several years of living in Paris, I decided to pursue my passion for dance and moved to New York City. It was there, were I discovered my interest for using expressive movement as a form of psychotherapy. Thus, I enrolled in a Master of Science program in Dance/Movement Therapy at Pratt Institute. Since then, I am focusing my work around Early Childhood mental health.
New York City offered me invaluable clinical work experiences that laid out the basis of my current work. As a Mental Health Clinician at University Settlement, I provided therapy for children age 2-5 affected by trauma. With Ohel, I served young children placed in foster care. At the Joan Fenichel Therapeutic Nursery, I served children with ASD, ADHD and developmental delays. For several years, I also collaborated with a non-profit organization POW! – Power of We! creating free enrichment programs for children of all ages and backgrounds.
Feel free to check my CV for more detailed information about my education and work experiences:
Dance/Movement Therapy for children: How it can help?
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is defined as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being” (American Dance Movement Therapy Association).
Dance/Movement Therapy relies on the premise that mind, body, and spirit are interconnected. Therefore, what impacts the mind will reflect itself on the body and its movement. Movement is thus used both as an assessment tool and primary mode of intervention allowing the therapist to access the mind of the client and help resolve the issue. Read more about DMT principles on the official ADTA website.
Because of its focus on nonverbal expression, DMT is a perfect psychotherapeutic method for working with children. Children are only slowly developing their ability to use language. They express themselves in symbolic ways rather than by words. Dance therapists can seize the meaning of their symbolic expression and through use of movement, dance, special props or toys help and support the child in resolving the issue.
The first goal in the process is always establishment of a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and safety without which the therapy cannot be successful.
Therapeutic Play: A therapy approach for children
Play is children´s natural way of self-expression and communication. It provides them with a safe space for sharing feelings, inner processes and thoughts. Play supports builds healthy self-esteem, supports children in finding their own resources, helps with psychomotor and social skills development. Play also helps children to regulate their emotions and allows them to process difficult life experiences that cannot be expressed in words. It is a children’s language and as such has a significant therapeutic potential.
Therapeutic play is an non-directive approach that uses this potential, called the therapeutic powers of play, to support children who are struggling with emotional, social, family or behavioral problems.
Therapeutic play is led by trained providers who, through carefully selected toys and aids combined with an empathetic and receptive approach to the child, create a supportive environment that allows children to express and process their feelings, experiences and thoughts.
Because therapeutic play sessions are usually non-directive, the child has the opportunity to express themselves freely and lead the play. The therapist becomes an „active witness of the child’s process“ and empathically follows the child. He/she mirrors the child´s emotions and the pace of the play, verbally tracks the activities and reflects on the child´s feelings in a nonjudgmental way. By doing so, the provider helps the child internally organize and transform lived experiences expressed in the play.
Therapy for children: Services
I am currently offering individual therapy at my playroom located at Lehárova 1196/10, Praha 12, and group sessions in collaboration with Fyzio Aktiv, located at Milešovská 6/1312, Praha 3.
If you would like to book a session or have any additional questions, feel free to leave me a message or reach out through the form below:
