Dance/Movement Therapy Overview

I was asked to do an interview about dance/movement therapy with an undergraduate student who is curious about pursuing the career path. Before we dive into the interview, check out the ADTA definition of dance/movement therapy below:

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) 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. The ADTA assumes the following:

• Movement is a language, our first language. Nonverbal and movement communication begins in utero and continues throughout the lifespan. Dance/movement therapists believe that nonverbal language is as important as verbal language and use both forms of communication in the therapeutic process.

• Mind, body, and spirit are interconnected.

• Movement can be functional, communicative, developmental, and expressive. Dance/movement therapists observe, assess, and intervene by looking at movement, through these lenses, as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship in the therapeutic session.

• Movement is both an assessment tool and a primary mode of intervention.

Interview with a student:

1. What are the benefits of DMT?

Dance/movement therapy (DMT)  has a wide range of benefits. Dance/movement therapists hold master’s level degrees in mental health counseling with a specialization in dance. Our bodies hold so much more than our brains; memories, feelings, experiences, trauma, good times, bad times, reactions, etc. If we quiet the mind and tune into our body, we’ve entered a bottom-up approach to healing, body to mind, rather than a top-down approach, mind to body. Allowing the body to engage first in the healing process can open up new pathways, insights and emotions to the therapy experience we typically think of when we think of therapy. DMT can deepen the mind and body connection, open pathways for self-expression, integrate new ways of moving through the world, look at developmental patterns, promote self-esteem, process challenging life events, process and heal trauma, increase kinesthetic awareness, promote healthy relationship with your environment and others, emotion regulation, violence prevention, cognitive rehabilitation, and increase social skills and attunement. 

2. What kind of impact does dance therapy have on you and your clients? 

As a dance/movement therapist, it’s important that I maintain ethical standards in my practice. Therapists in general must maintain good boundaries, because the work is not for us-- it’s for the benefit and well-being of your client. In general, I very much enjoy the work that I do-- but I must always hold true to the law and ethics I am obligated to. Therefore, the impact on me remains largely neutral. Like other therapists, I have clients that are a joy to work with and others that are more challenging. I maintain consistent supervision, even after having my license, so I can consult about my client’s cases and continue to provide well-rounded treatment. In terms of the impact on the clients, it’s like other therapy techniques. One-size does not fit all. Some people find great benefits in the work (as listed above) and some don’t feel it’s a good fit. I always encourage people to find the therapist and technique that feels right to them, even if it is not with me. 

3. Are there any negative aspects with dance therapy?  

The work that I do is powerful and something I very much enjoy. So related to my work as a DMT, there are no negatives. One challenge that I do face is people not knowing what it is that I do and therefore do not view me as a clinician and therapist. Outside of my work as a therapist, I do a lot of advocacy and education about this field. 

4. Are there different approaches/treatments depending on the person? If so, what are they? And How do you determine which approach would work best/ what do you consider? 

Within DMT, there are many techniques, approaches and interventions. Some popular names in the field are: Marian Chace, Blanche Evan, Mary Whitehouse, Trudi Schoop, Alma Hawkins, Irmgard Bartenieff, Judith Kestenberg, Janet Adler, Joan Chodorow, Sharon Chaiklin, Maria Leventhal and Penny Lewis. DMT also incorporates techniques found in traditional psychology approaches such as: psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, Jungian, humanistic, DBT, CBT, mindfulness-based, strengths-based, person centered, positive, and eclectic. When working with a new client, I will start to develop a treatment plan for them: looking at their full history (education, family, jobs, psychiatric, medical, childhood, trauma, etc) and why did they come to therapy. Using all of this information, I will start to develop interventions for them that encompasses both DMT techniques and psychology approaches. This decision is based on my clinical training; graduate school, internships, license supervision, and continued training and education. 

5. What exactly takes place during a dance therapy session?

Every session is totally different and no two sessions will look the same. DMT can be done with an individual or a group. It can have music or none at all. There may be some recognizable “dancey”-like movements, or more abstract movements of the body. There may be some props used (scarves, stretchy bands, yoga balls, tennis balls, etc) or there may be none. Most importantly, the DMT is never telling the client what to do. We do not teach dance and we do not tell them how to move. We are simply there as a witness to their process, safe-keeper for their journey, a giver of feedback, and therapist. We use our training in movement observation and assessment to observe what is happening on a body-level with our client and use our clinical skills to determine what an appropriate DMT intervention would be.

6. What is having a career in dance therapy like? / Would you recommend it? 

Dance/movement therapists work in a variety of settings including nursing homes, schools, psychiatric rehabilitation and medical facilities, drug treatment centers, counseling and crisis centers, prisons, and wellness and alternative health care centers. I recommend this work to anyone who is committed to being a dance/movement therapist. It would be important to get your bachelor’s in psychology and dance, and then find the DMT graduate program that best fits your educational interests. A master’s degree with take 2-3 years, so it adds up to be quite a bit of schooling! After school, you have to work full-time and get approved supervision as requirements for your official DMT license. 

7. Are there any misconceptions when it comes to dance therapy?

Yes! The biggest one I encounter is people often think I teach dance to my clients. As I mentioned, DMT is a client-driven process and the dance/movement therapist is there to be a guide in the therapy process. I do not teach my clients how to dance, I kinesthetically respond to what their movements and body expressions are and provide somatic guidance for healing and therapy.