Marina Benini

Marina Benini is a Lecturer in the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS) at Goldsmiths, University of London. She specializes in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, working with children in mainstream and special needs schools, and has experience with adults in mental health settings. She co-founded Musical Moving — Dance for People with Parkinson’s. Her research focuses on Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies, Kestenberg Movement Profile, and Somatic Psychology.

Education:

• Ba (Hons) Dance Theatre (2001)
• MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy (2007)
• Certificate in Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy (2011)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2021)
• Diploma in Creative Approaches to Supervision (2022)

Research Interests: Movement Pattern Analysis, Body-Mind Centering, and Psychodynamic approaches in clinical supervision. Her work integrates experiential anatomy and mentalization techniques in therapeutic contexts.

Her sole listed publication (2012) honors Dr. Marion North, highlighting contributions to psychotherapy history. Though no awards are mentioned, her teaching spans foundational and MA-level courses in Dance Movement Psychotherapy and Applied Psychosocial Studies.

Advising & Projects: Supervises clinical work with children/adolescents and collaborates on initiatives like Musical Moving, promoting dance therapy for neurodegenerative conditions.