What Is Dance Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTechniquesUsesBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Techniques

Uses

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

“DMT is a creative art psychotherapy that utilizes movement and dance to support the physical, intellectual, and emotional health of an individual,”Katie Bohn, LPC, BC-DMT, SEP, RYT, a board-certified dance/movement therapist.

According to board-certified dance therapistErica Hornthal, MA, LCPC, BC-DMT, dance therapy uses movement and nonverbal communication in addition to talk therapy to manage psychological and behavioral concerns that words alone do not address. “It’s about finding the places inside that you might not know or have chosen to deny, and giving a voice to the experiences and emotions,” Hornthal says.

Ecstatic Dance Can Boost Your Mood and Get You in Touch With Yourself

DMT looks different for everyone depending on a sense of safety, access to the body, and personal familiarity with an authentic expression of the body, explainsCaroline Kinsley, LPC intern, R-DMT, a dance/movement therapist. “The process may range from mostly verbal or speaking to mostly nonverbal or movement,” she says.

In a dance therapy session, a therapist may:

Dance therapists may utilize a technique known as mirroring, which involves copying another person’s movements. It can be a way to help people feel more connected to others and to buildfeelings of empathy.

Dance/movement therapists provide the space for individuals to experience an invitation, a sense of choice, validation, and to tolerate internal sensations. They also offer compassionate and supportive ways to feel a sense of control and autonomy within your body.

Dance and movement therapy can be used to treat a number of physical and mental health issues. It can be helpful for improving self-esteem and can be useful for people who struggle with body image issues. Some conditions that it may help with include:

The Connection Between Body Image and Eating Disorders

Dance therapy has a number of benefits that can make it a helpful addition to other treatment approaches. Where many treatment modalities, such ascognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focus on cognitions or behaviors, dance/movement therapy incorporates body-based strategies.

Building such skills allows you to recognize the change in your body-based experience outside of the therapeutic space and use it as insight if you are tending towards maladaptive beliefs or behaviors.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or another issue that affects body image, Bohn says being able to reconnect with your body, change the relationship with your body, have access to self-expression, and experience embodied relationships is significant in sustaining eating disorder recovery. Dance/movement therapy is a unique modality that supports these goals.

Research also suggests that dance/movement therapy can be helpful in the treatment of a number of different conditions. Some studies supporting its efficacy include:

While DMT can be an effective treatment option, there are some factors to consider before you decide if dance/movement therapy is right for you:

It is also important to note that dance therapy should not be used on its own for some conditions. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are serious mental health issues that require professional treatment from a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

In addition to traditional treatment modalities like psychotherapy, experts may recommend DMT as an adjunct or add-on form of therapy when managing conditions such as eating disorders.

Working with a trained, board-certified dance/movement therapist can help you focus on both the mind and the body processes as you gain insight and tools for managing daily life.

For more information on dance therapy and eating disorders check out the following websites, videos, and treatment centers:

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

How to Choose the Right Therapist for You

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dance Therapy Association.What is dance/movement therapy?. 2020.Karkou V, Aithal S, Zubala A, Meekums B.Effectiveness of dance movement therapy in the treatment of adults with depression: A systematic review with meta-analyses.Front Psychol. 2019;10:936. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936Koch SC, Riege RFF, Tisborn K, Biondo J, Martin L, Beelmann A.Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1806. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806Savidaki M, Demirtoka S, Rodríguez-Jiménez R-M.Re-inhabiting one’s body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2020;8(1):22. doi:10.1186/s40337-020-00296-2

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dance Therapy Association.What is dance/movement therapy?. 2020.Karkou V, Aithal S, Zubala A, Meekums B.Effectiveness of dance movement therapy in the treatment of adults with depression: A systematic review with meta-analyses.Front Psychol. 2019;10:936. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936Koch SC, Riege RFF, Tisborn K, Biondo J, Martin L, Beelmann A.Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1806. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806Savidaki M, Demirtoka S, Rodríguez-Jiménez R-M.Re-inhabiting one’s body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2020;8(1):22. doi:10.1186/s40337-020-00296-2

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Dance Therapy Association.What is dance/movement therapy?. 2020.Karkou V, Aithal S, Zubala A, Meekums B.Effectiveness of dance movement therapy in the treatment of adults with depression: A systematic review with meta-analyses.Front Psychol. 2019;10:936. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936Koch SC, Riege RFF, Tisborn K, Biondo J, Martin L, Beelmann A.Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1806. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806Savidaki M, Demirtoka S, Rodríguez-Jiménez R-M.Re-inhabiting one’s body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2020;8(1):22. doi:10.1186/s40337-020-00296-2

American Dance Therapy Association.What is dance/movement therapy?. 2020.

Karkou V, Aithal S, Zubala A, Meekums B.Effectiveness of dance movement therapy in the treatment of adults with depression: A systematic review with meta-analyses.Front Psychol. 2019;10:936. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936

Koch SC, Riege RFF, Tisborn K, Biondo J, Martin L, Beelmann A.Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1806. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806

Savidaki M, Demirtoka S, Rodríguez-Jiménez R-M.Re-inhabiting one’s body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders.Journal of Eating Disorders. 2020;8(1):22. doi:10.1186/s40337-020-00296-2

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