The Story Behind Vortex Movement Therapy Therapist Story Las Vegas
Vortex Movement Therapy began long before it officially became a business.
In 2019, I was nearing the end of my second year as a high school dance teacher in the Las Vegas public school system. I was deeply passionate about dance, but I was becoming exhausted by the realities of the public school system. The bureaucracy, constant challenges, and lack of creative freedom were draining me, and I knew I couldn't stay on that path forever. I felt called in a different direction. Finding a way to combine my love of movement with healing and mental health.
During a yoga retreat in Joshua Tree, I walked a labyrinth while reflecting on a simple question: What's next? As I moved through the winding path, surrounded by the area's renowned energy vortexes, I experienced a quiet sense of clarity. In that moment, I knew I wanted to pursue dance/movement therapy, and the name Vortex Movement Therapy came to me.
Although I continued teaching for another year before beginning the process of becomig a licensed dance/movement therapist, that walk marked the beginning of a new chapter. It was the first time I felt a calm certainty that my future would be rooted in helping others heal through movement.
In 2025, Vortex Movement Therapy LLC officially became a reality. But its true beginnings trace back to that labyrinth in Joshua Tree, where a question, a walk, and a moment of trust set everything in motion.
Roots Of My Work
My path to dance/movement therapy began through grief, loss, and experiencing moments of reconnection through movement.
My interest in dance/movement therapy began during my undergraduate studies, when I completed a research project exploring the benefits of DMT for individuals living with dementia. It was my first introduction to the field of dance/movement therapy, and it immediately captured my attention.
During this same period, my grandfather passed away from vascular dementia. His illness and passing had a profound impact on my family, particularly my grandmother, who experienced deep grief after losing her life partner. I remember one Thanksgiving asking if I could try a simple movement-based activity with her. She agreed, and we spent a few moments engaging in mirroring, a technique often used by dance/movement therapists. In that brief exchange, I saw her laugh and smile in a way I hadn’t seen since his passing.
That experience stayed with me.
Years later, as I began to consider a new career path, I returned to that research project and those memories. I realized how meaningful it would be to combine my passion for movement with supporting individuals navigating dementia, grief, and the later stages of life. This became a foundational thread in my decision to pursue dance/movement therapy as a career.