It’s a well known fact that moving is
good for the body and mind. The mental and emotional benefits of movement are
plentiful. The same endorphins that make you feel better when moving also help
you concentrate and sleep better, have more energy, and can help you
become more resilient when faced with the mental or emotional
challenges of life.
Moving regularly is an investment in
your mind, body, and soul. One of the more expressive ways to integrate
movement into your eating disorder recovery is through dance therapy.
What Is Dance/Movement Therapy?
Defined, dance/movement therapy (DMT)
in the US is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support
intellectual, emotional, and motor functions of the body. As a form of
expressive therapy, DMT looks at the correlation between movement and emotion.[1]
Also called “movement psychotherapy”
there is no single fixed type of movement style used within this therapeutic
exposure. Programs range from traditional dances like ballroom to more subtle
forms of movement like yoga and stretching to calm the body. [2] It’s important
to note that a DMT licensed practitioner would lead a session within a
therapeutic setting. Therapy sessions are focused on movement behavior as it
comes forward through the guided session.
Through this exposure, a therapist
will use movement to help a client achieve emotional, cognitive, physical
and social integration. The benefits include stress reduction and
mood management. Within eating disorder recovery, it can also help improve body
image and self-esteem. Founded within the idea that motion and
emotion are interconnected, this creative expression can also help improve
communication skills for better relationships. Movement can express aspects of
a personality that a licensed therapist can be in tune with for
deeper connection in recovery therapy.
Why Dance Therapy is Different from
Regular Dancing
Movement in a dance therapy setting
is more than just exercise. The actions, fluidity, and movement are interpreted
more like a language. People who utilize dance therapy within an eating
disorder treatment setting utilize movement to communicate conscious and unconscious feelings
through dance. The therapist responds to the movements, assesses body
language, nonverbal behaviors and emotional expressions to develop
interventions to address the specific needs of the client. Movement is the
primary way dance therapists observe, evaluate, and implement therapeutic
intervention.
Some interventions include: [3]
- Mirroring.
Matching and echoing the person’s movements to show empathy and
validate what the person is feeling.
- Using
a “movement metaphor” or prop to help a person physically and expressively
demonstrate a therapeutic challenge or achievement. For example: a
therapist may give a person in treatment a white flag to help celebrate
emotional surrender.
Important skills that can be acquired
during the process of dance movement therapy include: [4]
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- Learning
how to develop and trust your ability to be present empathetically.
- Being
able to respond authentically and truthfully.
- Learning
how to translate the nonverbal movements into insights that can be used in
recovery.
Susan Kleinman, a board certified
Dance/Movement Therapist, National Certified Counselor and Certified Eating
Disorder Specialist has shared that dance movement therapy is “a little like
talking through your body — quite different from talking only through your
‘head.
How Dance Movement Therapy can be
Beneficial
Feelings and life experiences live
inside the body and can get trapped there. You don’t have to be a dancer to
benefit from dance movement therapy. The body can be the key to unlocking
profound levels of healing. DMT is not a dance class. It is a therapeutic
exposure that can be used in conjunction with other eating disorder therapies
to help access genuine, long lasting change.
Having a means to feel safe to
understand and experience the sensations and feelings of your disorder are all
part of the journey to recovery. Dance movement therapy can play an integral
role in helping you re-claim an authentic connection between your actions and
words.
Accessing Dance Movement Therapy
Many eating disorder treatment
centers across the country offer this therapy option. Be sure to inquire during
your research as to all of the therapeutic exposures that may be available to
you. There is no one-size fits all approach to recovery and it is important to
find the program that is a right fit for you.
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