Alternative Fitness & Mental Health: The Therapeutic Benefits of Pole Dance & Aerial Arts with Amber Priestley

Pole is therapy! It’s time to debunk the stigma and give pole dance a formal place among other movement-based therapies. Join Amber Priestley, a licensed therapist and certified pole fitness instructor, as she presents compelling research and insights in this transformative seminar. With a decade of experience as a trauma therapist, Amber is on a mission to prove the therapeutic benefits of alternative fitness practices like pole dance and aerial arts.

Amber will share the results of her research, where she surveyed over 300 pole dancers to explore wellness outcomes, and dive into why these practices should be treated like other somatic therapies. The seminar will cover how pole dance can promote grounding, mindfulness, and emotional regulation in clients, especially those with nervous system dysregulation.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the therapeutic value of pole dance for mental health.

• Learn about the history and styles of modern pole dancing.

• Review real-life case studies and wellness outcomes from pole dancers.

• Explore using pole as a tool for grounding and mindfulness with clients.

• Examine the stigma surrounding pole dance and its connection to sex work.

• Gain strategies to engage clients in alternative movement therapies.

Amber will also examine broader societal themes, such as sexism, ableism, and oppression, that intersect with pole dance culture and address the need to reduce stigma. She will bring a traveling pole for a limited demonstration of techniques and provide insights on how clinicians can support clients in alternative movement practices.

This session is pre-approved for 3 CE hours by the MN Boards of Social Work (CEP-2403) and Behavioral Health and Therapy for LPCs and LPCCs (2024.CE.357). It is also pre-approved for 2.5 CE hours by the MN Board of Psychology (202510.125). Pending approval by the MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (for 3 Ethics and Cultural Competency credits).