Valerie A. Winborne. | Ilana Libman Innovative Therapy

Valerie A. Winborne

MA, R-DMT

National Dance Society, President

Dance Educator, K-12 Licensed with Gifted Endorsement

National Dance Society's Master Dance Educator, 2016

Healing Through Movement.

Restoration Through Connection.

Get to Know Valerie Winborne

Valerie Winborne is a Registered Dance Movement Therapist (R-DMT), Choreographer, and Healing Arts Practitioner whose work blends clinical knowledge with soulful expression. With over two decades of experience supporting women, children, and families, she specializes in body-based, creative approaches to emotional healing, trauma release, and personal growth.

Valerie brings an innovative edge to traditional practices—reimagining what healing can look and feel like. Whether in a private session, group circle, or performance-based experience, she integrates movement, storytelling, and strategic dialogue to help people find their voice, their rhythm, and their power.

She is a Registered Dance Movement Therapist (R-DMT), and currently serves as the President of the National Dance Society. She is also an Assistant Teaching Professor of Dance and Theatre at the College of William and Mary, where she brings together years of experience in education, therapeutic practice, and performance. Valerie has performed professionally with acclaimed companies including Urban Bush Women, and her choreography has been featured in both community and professional settings. She is known for her innovative approaches that blend therapy, family support, and creative exploration—building bridges between the stage, the studio, and the healing space .Her work builds bridges between therapy, education, and the arts, honoring both ancestral wisdom and contemporary needs.

What Is a Strategic Chat?

Strategic Chats often include:

Reflective conversation
Fun, therapeutic activities
Somatic and movement-based tools
Emotional reset and grounding strategies

You’ll laugh.

You’ll breathe.

You’ll grow.

Healing can happen here.

Strategic Chat is the space between therapy and survival. It’s what happens when you don’t need a therapist on the couch, but you can’t keep pretending everything is fine.

Think of it as your emotional check-in meets creative coaching—part clarity session, part guided activity, part deep sigh of relief. It feels like a good conversation with a trusted friend, but every moment is designed with clinical and creative intention.

Valerie crafts each chat to meet you right where you are. Weekly sessions explore the amazing things being uncovered in your life, and gently shape them into insight, movement, and momentum. Many women and children find themselves looking forward to these moments, because they feel good, real, and healing—even when tackling hard stuff.

Cohesion Performance Training (CPT)

When Strategic Chat becomes a group experience, it evolves into Cohesion Performance Training (CPT)—a dynamic, guided process for healing, reconnecting, and transforming relationships through play, movement, and structured dialogue.

CPT has been described as “family game night with a big dose of therapy.” Whether you're navigating grief, mending generational rifts, or just trying to be heard in your household, CPT offers the tools to rebuild and reimagine your connections.

CPT is ideal for:

Family grief and loss support
Parent-child reconnection
Restoring group harmony
Relationship revitalization

It’s not traditional therapy, but it carries the power and benefits of therapeutic work—especially when led by a trained practitioner who knows how to activate joy, vulnerability, and truth in a safe and structured environment.

CPT is a potent resource enabling participants to surmount hurdles and reach peak performance levels. It facilitates the resolution of past experiences, leading to reduced stress, depression, and disease prevention. Inclusivity is at its core, serving individuals of all ages, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and challenges.

Learn More About CPT

BENEFITS FROM
COHESION PERFORMANCE TRAINING (CPT)

Emotional Expression

Facilitates emotional release and expression through movement.
Helps individuals process and cope with difficult emotions.

Physical Fitness

Enhances overall physical health and fitness.
Improves flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance.

Stress Reduction

Reduces stress and anxiety levels through rhythmic and controlled movements.
Promotes relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Self-Confidence

Boosts self-esteem and self-confidence through mastery of dance skills.
Encourages a positive self-image and self-acceptance.

Social Interaction

Fosters social connections and a sense of belonging within a dance community.
Improves communication skills and cooperation through group choreography.

Mind-Body Connection

Enhances body awareness and proprioception (sense of body position).
Promotes mindfulness and a deeper connection to one's own body.

Cognitive Benefits

Improves memory and cognitive function through choreography and sequencing.
Enhances focus, concentration, and mental agility.

Creative Outlet

Provides a creative outlet for self-expression and artistic exploration.
Encourages innovation and self-discovery through dance improvisation.

Therapeutic Benefits

Supports the treatment of various mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD.
Offers an alternative or complementary therapy approach.

Motivation and Discipline

Develops discipline and commitment through regular practice and rehearsals.
Increases motivation to achieve personal and performance-related goals.

Cultural Understanding

Helps individuals connect with different cultures through cultural dance forms.
Promotes a greater appreciation for diversity and cultural heritage.

Holistic Well-Being

Addresses physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of well-being.
Encourages a holistic approach to health and self-care.

Please note that the benefits of Cohesion Performance Training may vary depending on the individual or group and the specific goals of the designed session.

Let's Connect

Healing starts with a single conversation.

We begin with a brief consultation to explore your needs and tailor a session plan—from private strategic chats to full group CPT experiences. Whether you're looking for support, clarity, reconnection, or just a moment to catch your breath—we can hold that space together.

Strategic Chat and CPT sessions are not therapy—but they offer the healing power, insight, and transformation that therapy can provide.

Schedule your consultation today. Let’s chat—strategically.