What is Dance Movement Therapy?

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is an evidence-based therapy that uses the body, movement and dance as therapeutic tools for emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It recognises the deep connection between mind and body, and values the wisdom of the body to process thoughts and feelings.

This therapeutic approach can be both enjoyable and fun, offering a unique alternative to traditional talk therapy for exploring your inner world. It is especially well suited for individuals who either struggle with verbal communication or may not use speech to communicate, allowing them to creatively express themselves non-verbally.

Elements in a session can include the use of posture, gesture and dance improvisation to explore personal challenges, improve communication and build healthy relationships. Movement can be simple or complex, depending on your needs and goals for therapy.

You don't need any dance/movement experience to participate in Dance/Movement therapy.

Educational Resources
  • A video about dance/movement therapy

    Watch Here

  • Article in the media about dance/movement therapy with further research

    Read Here

  • Check out some evidence-based research on the effectiveness of DMT in different settings:

    Meekums, B., Karkou, V. and Nelson, E.A. (2015) 'Dance movement therapy for Depression', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(6). doi:10.1002/14651858.cd009895.pub2.

    Read Here

  • Koch, S.C. et al. (2019) 'Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update', Frontiers in Psychology, 10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01806.

    Read Here

  • Shim, M., Goodill, S. and Bradt, J. (2019) 'Mechanisms of dance/movement therapy for building resilience in people experiencing chronic pain', American Journal of Dance Therapy, 41(1), pp. 87-112. doi:10.1007/s10465-019-09294-7.

    Read Here

How does DMT differ from a dance class?

In a dance class, the instructor teaches set choreography or techniques with the focus on mastering steps whereas in dance/movement therapy, the emphasis is on the process of movement to support emotional and psychological wellbeing and is tailored to meet the needs of the individual.

Silhoette of three women dancing with their hands raised

Who can benefit from Dance Movement Therapy?

Dance Movement Therapy can help everyone, however specifically DMT has shown to benefit the following:

Conditions
  • Deaf & Blindness
  • Autism
  • Chronic Pain
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Hypertension
  • Parkinsons Disease
  • Elderly Balance Impairment
  • ADHD
Mental Health
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Self-esteem Issues
  • Anger Issues
  • Memory loss or difficulty
  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder

What can I expect in a session?

In a dance/movement therapy session, the activities and experiences can vary depending on the goals of the session and the needs of the participants. However, a typical session might include the following elements.

  • Check in: A check in with participants to understand mood levels and insights.
  • Warm up: A gentle warm-up to support grounding and environmental awareness.
  • Thematic exploration: Guided improvisational prompts inviting clients to explore movement in response to specific themes, emotions, or sensations. These prompts may be open-ended to encourage creative expression and self-discovery.
  • Reflection: An arts-based or verbal reflection to process with the therapist what participants experienced in the session.
  • Closure: A cool down to transition out of the space.

What improvements/outcomes can I expect?

ConditionAssociated Outcome
Deaf & Blindness Provides a unique creative form of expression for deaf-blind people.
Autism Enhances communication, engagement, and social skills.
Chronic Pain Reduces chronic pain and enhances coping strategies effectively.
Cardiovascular Disease Improves cardiovascular health via aerobic movements and exercises.
Hypertension Reduces hypertension via relaxation and rhythmic movement techniques.
Parkinsons Disease Benefits Parkinson's patients with improved mobility and emotional well-being.
Elderly Balance & Movement Impairment Tailored sessions enhance elderly balance and physical function.
AnxietyAids anxiety reduction and fosters relaxation effectively and positively.
DepressionReduces depressive symptoms and enhances overall mood significantly.
PTSD Facilitates trauma processing and empowers individuals positively and constructively.
Self-esteem IssuesFosters self-expression, acceptance, and confidence positively and constructively.
Anger IssuesProvides constructive anger outlets and healthy coping mechanisms effec-tively.
Memory loss or difficulty Stimulates memory and enhances cognitive abilities effectively and posi-tively.