Dance/Movement Therapy

*Please note that Dance/Movement Therapy sessions are offered only on an independent-contractual basis.

Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a psychotherapeutic approach to movement which recognizes that through the intentional use of the body, we can access, and heal the mind. Central to this work is the belief that non-verbal communication, the use of ritual space, and bodily expression have the power to heal the whole person.

Sessions

A Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) individual/group session can look very different depending on the client's needs. We may work on improvisational movement, increasing range of motion, mirroring, stretching, progressive relaxation, rhythmic and synchronized movement, expansion of expressive movement vocabulary, movement meditation, utilization of ritual space, and embodied storytelling, etc. There is no aspect of DMT that requires the client to have previous dance experience or knowledge. This work does not resemble choreographed dance, with which most people are familiar. There are no routines or steps to follow. In DMT, the emphasis is on self-expression and the therapeutic capacity of movement in its purest form.

Benefits

The benefits of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) include improvement in social interaction skills and mood. DMT also has the ability to soothe the over-activation of the nervous system, which is common after undergoing a traumatic event(s). Traumatic experiences that remain stuck in the body are often the root cause of many stress related conditions. In DMT, we release the destructive and corrosive energy that residual trauma has on both the body and mind. Through the process of engaging in self-directed movement, we find comfort again in our bodies, and reinvigorate our own internal resilience. This approach also enhances balance, motor coordination, and the development of self-awareness, self-expression, creativity, and imagination. The non-verbal component of the work can also support communication and relationship building skills amongst those with neurodevelopmental conditions.