Dance-Movement Therapy

A dance movement therapy session may focus on relaxation techniques, the expression of feelings through movement, improvisational dance or movement to music, or just checking in with bodily experiences and sensations as different issues are discussed.

Dance therapy and Movement Therapy integrate the use of traditional psychotherapy techniques with movement in order to promote improved mental health and well-being. By increasing awareness of one’s body in relation to our emotional state, dance-movement therapy offers an effective way of working through issues and problems, and provides tools for resilience and coping with life’s challenges. Movement also allows for the safe expression and processing of traumatic material that is stored or trapped in the body, giving it a pathway to awareness and release.

The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) describes the practice as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being. For more information about dance-movement therapy visit their national website here.

The practice of Dance-Movement therapy is a NYS licensed Creative Arts Therapy profession.

Our body stores emotions, memories, traumas, and all of our life experiences. If left unexpressed, these experiences can cause tension, pain, illness, and a general sense of disconnection from ourselves. Introducing movement into the psychotherapy space, at a pace that works for you, can be transformative and accelerate the therapeutic process. Whether accompanied by music, or done in silence, moving is a great way to feel whole and alive.

Dancing, or moving your body in front of someone else can be intimidating. But the courage to take up space and be seen is at the core of connecting with yourself, and accepting who you are, in the purest, most profound way.

Dance Movement Therapy FAQS

What is dance/movement therapy?

Dance/movement therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy that focuses on increased interaction between the body and the mind. By involving the body into treatment, through movement, dance, or just self-awareness, clients experience a greater understanding of their issues as well as increased access to the ways in which they do, and can, respond to life stressors.

Is dance-movement therapy a licensed psychotherapy profession?

yes.

Do I need to have dance experience to do dance-movement therapy?

No experience is needed to benefit from dance-movement therapy! In fact, sometimes the less experience you have, or the more foreign the idea of moving/dancing may be to you, the more you can benefit, because the greater the discoveries will be! All that is required is a willingness to try, and possibly feel a little bit uncomfortable (at first) until you remember how good moving and grooving feels!

I am uncomfortable in my body, would dance-movement therapy be good for me?

Yes, actually! Dance-movement therapy is all about becoming more comfortable with your body. Making friends with it, understanding its signals better, and learning to trust it and honor it. If you’ve had life experiences that have made you uncomfortable in your body, dance movement therapy offers a direct pathway to healing and rewiring your relationship to your body, and ultimately, yourself.

If someone has experienced sexual trauma is dance-movement therapy helpful?

Dance-movement therapy and other body-based therapies can be extremely useful for people who have experience sexual or physical trauma. Your therapist will work with you at your pace to reinforce safety signals in your body and introduce movement in a way that allows you to release stored trauma, connect to positive feelings, and redefine your relationship to your body.