What Is Dance/Movement Therapy?

• Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to support emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration.
• Physical benefits: improves strength, flexibility, coordination; reduces muscle tension.
• Mental health benefits: lowers stress; supports individuals with autism, anxiety, depression, and other conditions.
• DMT combines nonverbal movement with talk therapy, giving expression to experiences that may not be accessible through words alone.
• Focus is on exploration, self-expression, and embodied awareness.

Is Dance Movement Therapy Effective?

• Research shows DMT can:
  • Reduce depression, anxiety, and stress.
  • Improve quality of life, interpersonal relationships, and cognitive skills.
  • Support physical health (e.g., increased exercise capacity in heart patients).

Do You Have to Be Good at Dance to Benefit From Dance Therapy?

• Dance therapy is about expression, not skill.
• Anyone can benefit, even if it feels like having “two left feet.”
• Movement is a basic form of communication and our earliest way of expressing ourselves.

How Does Dance Therapy Differ From Regular Dancing?

• Regular dance is recreational; dance therapy interprets body movement as a reflection of emotions, thoughts, and personality.
• Therapists help clients gain insight, process emotions, and reduce stress.
• Effective for conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma.
• Both dancing and DMT lower cortisol and increase dopamine (mood booster) and endorphins (natural painkiller).

Examples of Dance Movement Therapy:

• Gesture: Creating a movement (e.g., hands on heart, arms waving) to express a current feeling; deepened to explore emotion further.
• Mirroring: Copying movements to build empathy, understanding, and connection between therapist and client.
• Jumping Rhythms: Incorporating vertical movement to counter the reduced energy and movement patterns linked to depression.

Dance Therapy for Adults With PTSD

• Trauma impacts both mind and body – DMT engages both systems in healing.
• Movement becomes a voice for memories and emotions too painful to express verbally.
• Helps clients identify dissociated feelings, rebuild control, and integrate their experiences.

Dance Movement Therapy Techniques:

• Mirroring: Establishes nonverbal trust and relationship.
• Attunement: Uses movement empathy; therapist may shift patterns to soothe distress.
• Integrated Development: Helps clients work through developmental challenges and relational roadblocks.
• Authentic Movement: Client attends to sensations, recreating early sensory states; therapist acts as witness.

Is Dance Movement Therapy a Good Fit for You?

• DMT can be powerful, but may not be the first choice if:
  • Experiencing severe psychological or physical symptoms.
  • In active treatment for substance use disorders.
• Can be used alongside other therapies for a more holistic approach.
• Important to consult with a clinician or doctor before starting if symptoms are severe.

Do Dance Therapists Work With Children & Adolescents?

• Yes – highly effective across age groups:
  • Babies: Supports attachment, regulation, and sensory integration.
  • Children/adolescents: Builds coping strategies, emotional expression, body awareness, communication, and confidence.

Who Can Provide Dance Therapy Sessions?

• Should be delivered by a trained and certified dance movement therapist.
• Most effective in 1:1 or group therapy settings, depending on client needs.

Techniques

DMT varies depending on client needs, safety, and body awareness. Sessions may include:

• Exploring connections between movement and emotion.
• Tracking breath and bodily sensations.
• Encouraging improvisational or guided movement.
• Using movement or verbal interventions to promote insight and healing.
• Processing feelings that arise through movement.
• Mirroring: therapist reflects client’s movements to build empathy and connection.
• Therapists create a safe, supportive environment offering choice, validation, and opportunities for autonomy.

What Dance/Movement Therapy Can Help With

DMT can support a wide range of physical and psychological issues, including:

• Anxiety, anger, depression
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Arthritis and chronic pain
• Eating disorders and body image concerns
• PTSD and trauma
• Dementia and memory loss
• Communication issues and fall prevention
• Low self-esteem and psychological distress

Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy

• Calm and regulation: provides body-based strategies to down-regulate stress.
• Self-awareness: supports awareness of bodily cues (e.g., hunger, fullness, tension).
• Coping skills: helps clients recognise physical signals of stress or triggers, and respond effectively.
• Body connection: encourages healthier relationships with the body, self-expression, and embodied relationships.

Effectiveness

Evidence supports the use of DMT across multiple contexts:

• Depression: A 2019 systematic review confirmed DMT is effective for adults with depression.
• Anxiety & quality of life: 2019 review found reductions in anxiety and depression, with improved interpersonal, cognitive, and social outcomes.
• Eating disorders: A 2020 pilot study showed improved body satisfaction and appearance evaluation following 14 weeks of DMT.

Things to Consider

• Safety and pacing: especially important for clients with trauma histories.
• Physical/health limitations: energy levels or medical complications may affect movement capacity.
• Challenging emotions: some clients may struggle with body disconnection or criticism; DMT provides an opportunity to rebuild compassion and acceptance.
• Complementary treatment: DMT should not replace primary care for serious conditions (e.g., eating disorders) but can enhance broader therapeutic approaches.