Consider psychological skills training as an innovative and exciting way to help dancers, musicians,  and other performing artists to take their craft to the next level of mastery.    For decades, Olympic athletes have effectively improved their performances using psychological methods.  The BRAVE method is tailored uniquely  for performing arts professionals and students.  The program has received positive feedback from performing arts professionals, students, parents, and teachers.  Workshops have been presented at conferences, including the  National Dance Education Organization, and  Miller Health Care Institute for Performing Artists in New York City.  This year, it was an  honor to be invited to guest  teach the BRAVE method at  The  Juilliard School. 

            Students and  professionals  greatly benefit from psychological skills training.  Increased focus, concentration and confidence are among the many benefits.  Dedicated artists may safely accelerate their quest for excellence.  Performance anxiety is reduced. While recovering from unfortunate injuries, performers may practice psychological skills that reduce the risk for further injury.

My  wish is to offer  the program to dance students with serious   performance/career ambitions.   Trainings workshops are also helpful to  performing artists , arts educators, and healthcare specialists  who work with artists.  This year,  one of my  workshops in NYC was attended by  a student and her teacher from a Pennsylvania  university dance  department.  The 20 year old student is currently studying at the Alvin Ailey intensive dance program.  At the end of my workshop the young dancer expressed her wish that she could have been introduced to the psychological method work earlier  in her training .  Teachers with  their advanced students  are warmly invited to   attend  my summer workshop on July 31,  Thurs at 6-8:30 pm in Livingston, NJ. Please see contact information below.

            Experience has shown  that performing artists enjoy participating in the program, and are delighted with their growth.   Artists educators  add to their teaching repertoire, and share a novel growth experience with other professionals. 

       Harlene Goldschmidt, PhD, clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst, has 20 years experience working with children, teens, and adults.  Dr. Goldschmidt is a guest teacher at The Juilliard School and Montclair State University where she teaches performing artists psychological techniques.  Dr. Goldschmidt is a charter member of  both the Sports Psychology committee of the New Jersey  Psychological Association & the National Dance Education Organization.  She conducts individual and group consultations with sports and performing arts organizations. Recent publications include, “Dancing With Your Head On: Mental Imagery Techniques For Dancers,” in Journal of Dance Education.  Harlene has studied dance for over 30 years, and as an adult takes weekly ballet and yoga classes.