Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a holistic therapeutic approach that is based on the fact that our body, mind, and emotions are interconnected and influence each other. In DMT, the psychotherapeutic use of movement promotes the emotional, social, and physical integration of the individual, with the aim of improving their mental and physical health (Definition from the American Dance Therapy Association ADTA).
In a DMT session, the body and movement are the primary tools for developing the relationship between the therapist and the client and for exploring, expressing, and processing the issues that the client brings, within a safe and trusting framework.
During the session, the therapist and client can communicate both verbally and non-verbally, not only through movement but also through other forms of non-verbal expression, such as painting, music, rhythm, etc., always according to the client’s needs and desires.
Through this specific approach, the individual can come into greater contact with their emotions, give them meaning and form, and find ways to integrate them. They can relieve, through expression, processing, and meaning-making, anxiety, fears, and other uncomfortable emotions, especially when these appear intensely and on a physical level, such as in the form of psychosomatic symptoms.
They can find new ways to explore their experiences and broaden the way they experience themselves, others, and the world. DMT can be done both on a group and individual level and is suitable for all population groups. Knowledge of dance or general involvement in movement or the arts is not necessary, as movement and creative expression are not the end in themselves, but the means for therapy.
Anyone can have access to it, even people with serious physical disabilities or injuries, as it is an adaptable approach based on the unique needs and abilities of each individual.
It is not necessary for every session or every therapy to involve active and obvious movement, as our body is always present and in motion, even when we are not focusing on it or using it visibly.