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Meet Thomas

Dancer, Scientist, Councilor, Teacher

Thomas Gross’ offering blends conscious movement practice, cognitive-behavioral psychology, and modern evidence-based science. Thomas is intensely curious, endlessly inquisitive, always learning new things, and collecting a comprehensive toolbox along the way.

During his PhD, Thomas trained in Transactional Analysis (TA) at the Erich Berne Institute in Zurich from 2007 to 2009 (with Anita Steiner Seiler). TA is a psychoanalytic theory and form of therapy founded by Eric Berne. Among others, Thomas learned from one of TA’s founders, Claude Steiner. Since that time, Thomas learned Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), delved deeper into evidence-based counseling with cognitive-behavior therapy, and trained in Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe, developed by Diane Poole Heller). Since 2022, Thomas trained as a therapist in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT, with Russ Harris).

Thomas began a conscious movement practice in 2006, most influenced by Gabrielle Roth (Five Rhythms), Vinn Arjuna Marti (Soul Motion), and Ya’Acov and Susanna Darling Khan (Movement Medicine). He completed the 3rd-generation Movement Medicine Apprenticeship and Professional Training in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and continued professional development with advanced conscious movement practices for matters of the heart, life cycles, belief and behavior patterns. He taught Movement Medicine regularly since 2016 as part of the Newcastle Dance Collective, but chose not to graduate from the School of Movement Medicine. In 2024, he founded his own practice Dance of Life, as an ACT-congruent approach to conscious movement, and was recognized by the International Conscious Movement Teacher Association (ICMTA) as fully qualified teacher.

Thomas is a university professor and published scientist. He lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

18
Years of
Practice

Conscious movement, dance,
meditation, counseling.

”That you are here—that life exists and identity,
that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

Walt Whitman

”Dance is the hidden language of the soul.

Martha Graham

Want to know more?

Counseling

  • Foundational Training and Practical Competence in Transactional Analysis (Erich Berne Institute, 2007-2009)
  • Practitioner of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR, 2014)
  • Practitioner of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT, 2017)
  • Dynamic Attachment Repatterining Experience (DARe 1-4 developed by Diane Poole Heller, 2021)
  • Foundations of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, with Russ Harris, 2022)
  • ACT for Depression and Anxiety Disorders (with Russ Harris, 2022)
  • Trauma-Focused ACT (with Russ Harris, 2023)
  • Leading through values
  • ACT for Perfectionism and People Pleasing (with Russ Harris, 2023)
  • ACT as Brief Intervention (Focused ACT, with Russ Harris, 2023)
  • Introduction to psychobiological approach, arousal regulation and attachment, in therapy (with Stan Tadkin, 2024)
  • Trauma Solutions: Restoring Resilience (with Diane Poole Heller and Peter Levine, 2024)
  • ACT for Grief and Loss (with Russ Harris, 2024)

Embodiment and Conscious Movement

  • Conscious movement practitioner from 2006 (Five Rhythms, Soul Motion, Movement Medicine)
  • Trained massage therapist (2007-2009)
  • Five Rhythms Deep-Dive year group with Andreas Tröndle (2008), including Heartbeat, Cycles, and Mirrors levels)
  • Five Rhythms August Intensive with Gabrielle Roth (2010)
  • Movement Medicine Apprenticeship (2015)
  • Movement Medicine Professional Training (2016); chosen not to graduate in the School of Movement Medicine
  • Advanced CPDs on Chambers of the Heart, SEER, Phoenix, Ceremonies (2017-2018)
  • Founded Dance of Life as ACT-congruent conscious movement practice (2024)

Conscious Inquiry

Caretaking

  • Co-founded an environmental-protection youth-work NGO, which still flourishes to this day.
  • Years volunteering in environmental protection youth work.
  • Trained outdoor first aider; first-aid coordinator of the Newcastle Dance Collective
  • PADI Rescue Diver, 2017
  • PADI Dive Master, 2018
  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), 2019
  • PADI Emergency First Responder Instructor, 2019

Philosophy

Holistic Approach. I believe in body, heart and mind pulling together for a rich and meaningful life.  Hence, both counseling and conscious movement are at the interplay of embodiment, emotions and thoughts.

There is a place for sensing and receiving and a place for intending and acting.

Evidence-based Approach. I am a scientist by training and carry a conviction for evidence-based practice. Hence, both in counseling and in the Dance of Life, I prefer approaches that have sound roots in a scientific evidence base.

ACT Congruence. In general, I prefer tools that are ACT-congruent, that is, that are aligned with the underlying psychological framework and philosophy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).