What is Dance / Movement Therapy (DMT)?
Dance/Movement Therapy is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as the psychotherapeutic use of dance, movement, body awareness, and embodied communication, to foster healing and wellness for all individuals, families, and communities.
Dance/movement therapy uses body language and creative expression to build connection, awareness and healing. It is not a dance class because you direct the movement through your body language. Emotions have been described as the connection between mind and body. Using the body to access, express, and heal emotions, especially with embodied struggles like illness, pain, disordered eating, or trauma, makes sense.
This modality is effective, in part, because:
Communication is 90% nonverbal.
Everyone moves in some way.
Putting things into words is sometimes difficult.
Emotions and struggles have a physical component.
Why choose Dance / Movement Therapy?
To help you find your strength
To release emotions and help integrate experiences
To find your rhythm in life
To gain insight into what’s going on with you
To give structure to experiences and feelings
Dance/Movement Therapy FAQs
Do I have to dance?
No. Dance/movement therapy doesn’t require you to dance. All movement is viewed as a form of a dance and in dance/movement therapy, we can work with whatever movement you would like to do, from breathing to running across the room, and everything in between.
Is this new age mumbo jumbo?
No. Dance/movement therapy began as a profession in the 1940s, as early innovators, many of whom were accomplished dancers, began to realize the benefit of using dance and movement as a form of psychotherapy.
Is this just for children?
No. Dance/movement therapists work with all age groups. The dance/movement therapist at Constellations Mental Health generally work with adults.
Learn more about Dance / Movement Therapy from the American Dance Therapy Association.