Marlene Stirrett-Matson
MACP, RP
What is Dance Movement Therapy?
Movement is our body’s first language, and all of our experiences are recorded somewhere in the body. Although dance has been used for millennia in many cultures as part of healing rituals and ceremonies, dance movement therapy (DMT) as an evidence-based treatment approach began in the 1940s in psychiatric hospitals in the U.S.
DMT was discovered to be effective in reaching returning soldiers who became nonverbal due to medications, and dance movement therapists became part of hospital treatment teams. DMT continues to be an important intervention in hospitals, as well as in clinics, community settings, dance spaces, and private practice.
Research has demonstrated that DMT can help people who are experiencing a variety of presentations, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, dissociation, schizophrenia, addictions and substance abuse.
The Gifts of Dance Movement Therapy
Gaining body and kinesthetic awareness
Develop a deeper understanding of your physical self and how you move.
Experiencing connection, co-regulation, and mutual witnessing
Connect with yourself and others through shared movement experiences, feeling seen and understood.
Getting in touch with past experiences and disowned aspects of the self
Gently access and integrate past experiences and less acknowledged parts of yourself through movement, fostering physical, intellectual, and emotional wholeness.
Tuning into repetitive movement patterns and learning new ways to move
Become aware of habitual movements and explore new possibilities for expression and change.
Experiencing a sense of belonging and validation in a group
Find community and acceptance as you move alongside others, mirroring and responding in a shared experience.
Processing and integrating memories, feelings, and thoughts
Utilize movement as a pathway to explore and make sense of your inner world.