Lara Tant, MA, R-DMT
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
Registered Dance/Movement Therapist
Dancer, Dance Educator
Phone: (904) 650-3467
Email: Lara@NewGrowthSTA.com
Offering in-person or telehealth appointments
Welcome!
If you are visiting our website, you have already taken a courageous step on your pathway to healing. It is hard to live in our world where there are many barriers stacked up against us, my role as a therapist is to walk beside you on your journey to help you overcome what stands in the way and provide acceptance through listening to validate and celebrate you, as the honored author and expert of your own story. Together we will celebrate what is working, nourish your potential, and help you turn on the light when things feel dark, create space for growth in self-awareness and presence, and empower you to choose to find meaning, hope, and purpose amid
circumstances that may not be in our control.
What we go through leaves marks on our body and mind because they are intricately connected. Our thoughts and emotions impact how our body feels; and how our body feels impacts our thoughts and emotions. Making changes in how we move our body can help us change how we think and navigate the difficulties we are experiencing in life. New feelings and thoughts may come up when we are shifting how we move. Dance/movement therapy creates a safe space for these feelings to come up so that they may be identified and validated through nonverbal and verbal processing to find meaningful applications to life outside of therapy.
My therapeutic style is to utilize creative movement to playfully and joyfully ignite vitality and support you in involving your body in the healing process. I employ a person-centered, trauma-informed, integrative approach to counseling and dance/movement therapy. I rely upon the healing properties inherent in dance and the creative arts therapies, supported by psychological theory to foster growth and change. I also use components of yoga, mindfulness and breath work, to achieve cognitive, physical, social, and emotional integration. We will make decisions together about how to include the body, mind and spirit on your healing journey.
I attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, where I received a Master’s Degree in both Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling. As a registered dance/movement therapist I have witnessed transformative outcomes in my work with adolescent boys in the foster care system, and with both children and adults with developmental and intellectual differences. This practice brought hope to victims and survivors of human sex trafficking, which is described in a book chapter I co-authored in Dance/Movement Therapy for Trauma Survivors, published by Routledge in 2022. I am also a professional ballet dancer and teacher who lived for many years in New York City, traveling to teach and dance in India, South Africa, and France. I continue to teach children to dance. It fills my heart with joyful gratitude to uplift dancers, from the tiniest to the tallest, as they fulfill their highest potential. Just as in the therapeutic setting, my goal is to help them keep their hearts and minds healthy and happy in the process.
FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and requests below. If you have more questions or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact me.
How long is each session?
Every therapy session is 50 minutes
How do I schedule an appointment?
All new clients must call (904-650-3467) or email (Lara@newgrowthsta.com) me to schedule an intake session. If you are a current, existing client, you can view my calendar to request an appointment through the client portal here- your secure client portal.
For new clients, once we speak and schedule the first session, you will receive an email with consent forms and intake questionnaires to complete prior to your appointment. These documents must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the start of the first session.
If you are scheduling an appointment for your minor child, I will need to speak with the parent or legal guardian prior to the first session.
If you are the legal guardian of a child or have shared custody of a child, I am required to obtain legal guardianship and/or custody agreement documentation prior to the fist appointment.
What is your session fee? Do you take insurance?
My session rate is $120 per session
I currently do not accept any insurance plans and would be considered an "out of network" provider by your insurance company, should you have mental health coverage. Upon request, I can provide you with a diagnostic receipt of services (a Superbill) that you can submit to your insurance company. I suggest you contact your insurance company to determine what benefits you have. All sessions are 50 minutes.
How do I pay for sessions?
I accept cash, all major credit cards, checks, and HSA cards.
What type of therapy do you do?
I take an integrated approach to counseling. Some of my favorites that I am currently practicing are:
Dance/Movement Therapy
Person-Centered
Existential Psychotherapy
Narrative Therapy
Strength-Based Counseling
Additionally, I incorporate components of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness based interventions.
My Office Hours
I am currently accepting new clients
All appointment times start on the top of the hour and last 50 minutes.