If you had asked me 17 years ago what dance therapy, or Dance/Movement Therapy was, I, like many people, probably would have guessed it was the therapeutic use of dance to help others feel better. And I would have been… right. But only partially.
Through years of training and practice, I’ve learned that Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is much more than just dancing to feel good. It is a powerful, evidence-based psychotherapy approach that integrates movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being.
Before diving into what DMT is, let’s start with what it isn’t.
What Dance/Movement Therapy Is NOT
Many misconceptions surround Dance/Movement Therapy. Let’s clear some up:
- Not a Dance Class: Clients do not need to know how to dance or be “good” at dancing to benefit from DMT. It is not about learning dance techniques or choreography.
- Not a Form of Physical Therapy: Although movement is a core element of DMT, its primary focus is psychological and emotional healing, rather than rehabilitation for physical injuries.
- Not Just for Women: There may be a misconception that DMT is only for those who identify as female. However, it is a therapy for all individuals, regardless of gender.
- Not for Everyone: Like any therapeutic approach, DMT may not be the right fit for every client. The best therapy is the one that aligns with a person’s needs and comfort level.
Check out our recent interview with a Dance/Movement Therapist here:
The History and Definition of Dance/Movement Therapy
Dance has been used for healing purposes in cultures around the world for thousands of years. However, modern Dance/Movement Therapy as a psychotherapeutic practice developed in the 20th century.
The Origins of Dance/Movement Therapy
One of the pioneers of DMT, Marian Chace, began using dance as a therapeutic modality in the 1940s and 1950s at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. She later co-founded the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) in 1966, helping establish DMT as a recognized field.
According to the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), Dance/Movement Therapy is:
“The psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual.”
ADTA members have expanded this definition to include:
“The intentional use of dance, creative movement, body awareness, and embodied and spoken communication, facilitated through the therapeutic relationship, to foster healing and wellness for individuals, families, and communities.”
What Can Dance/Movement Therapy Treat?
Simply put, DMT can be utilized to treat anything and everything. Examples include:
- Aging and Dementia
- Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities
- Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in children
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Eating disorders
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship concerns
- Trauma
- OCD
…and so much more! A Dance/Movement Therapist will work with you to determine the best approach for your treatment area and goals.
How Does Dance/Movement Therapy Help with Trauma?
Sometimes it can be difficult to articulate trauma experience through words. The body holds memories. When faced with certain stress triggers, we may experience reactions such as shortness of breath, clenched fists, or the flight/flight/freeze response. DMT offers clients a safe space to express their emotions and process their experiences in an embodied way. Over time, this can help individuals to release these held memories and emotions and gain a sense of control, safety and sense of empowerment in their bodies.
Find an Ellie Dance/Movement Therapist near you.
Where Is Dance/Movement Therapy Used?
Dance/Movement Therapy is used in a variety of settings, including:
- Mental health facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Medical settings
- Educational institutions
- Forensic settings
- Nursing homes
- Disease prevention and health promotion programs
- Private practice
DMT can be practiced with people of all ages, backgrounds, and in various formats, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy.
How Does Dance/Movement Therapy Work?
Dance/movement therapists help clients improve self-esteem, body image, communication, relationships, and coping skills. By observing and analyzing movement patterns, therapists can help clients gain deeper insight into their behaviors and emotions.
What Happens in a DMT Session?
A Dance/Movement Therapy session can include:
- Expressive movement with props (scarves, stretch bands, balloons)
- Seated or standing movement activities
- The use of different types of music
- Guided imagery and visualization
- Breathing and meditative relaxation exercises
- The use of metaphor, play, and storytelling
- Individual movement, partner work, or group interactions
The goal is not to perform but to use movement as a tool for self-expression, healing, and personal growth.
The Mind-Body Connection in Dance/Movement Therapy
DMT recognizes that we are not just our minds and not just our bodies, but a combination of the two. What impacts one, affects the other.
By engaging in movement-based therapy, individuals can work through emotions, build resilience, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Is Dance/Movement Therapy Effective?
In a word, Yes. Research in the field has demonstrated that DMT can be effective at decreasing depression, decreasing blood pressure, improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients, addressing trauma, improving balance and communication in older adults, and so much more. To learn more, check out these research articles from ADTA or this article found on the National Institute of Health’s site:
Do You Need Dance Experience for Dance/Movement Therapy?
No, you do not need any dance experience to participate in a DMT session. Your therapist will guide you in various forms of moving, that may include movement warmups, use of imagery in movement, and use of props such as scarves or stretch bands, to help you express your emotions and address your treatment goals with focus on the mind-body connection. They will meet you where you are in your therapeutic journey and never push you to engage in a way in which you are not comfortable or physically able to do.
How Does One Become a Dance/Movement Therapist?
There are master’s level programs at select schools throughout the country, as well as alternate route training available. After graduating, therapists can apply for their R-DMT (Registered DMT) or go on to pursue their Board Certification and become a BC-DMT. Continuing Education credits are required every five years. In addition to webinar courses, the ADTA holds a Virtual Spring Summit as well as an annual conference in the Fall, held at different regions of the country each year. This year the ADTA will be holding its 60th annual conference in Raleigh, N.C. In addition, there are numerous opportunities to become involved through local chapters and national committees. For more information, visit www.adta.org .
Ready to Experience Dance/Movement Therapy?
If you ever have the opportunity to try a Dance/Movement Therapy session, I hope this breakdown has given you a better understanding of what it is—and isn’t. I’ll leave you with a quote from American dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille:
“The truest expression of a people is in its dances and its music. Bodies never lie.”
To learn about other “non-traditional” forms of therapy, check out these other blogs from Ellie Mental Health:
Art Therapy Techniques, Benefits, and Applications | Ellie Mental Health, PLLP
What is Psychedelic Therapy? | Ellie Mental Health, PLLP
VR Therapy and its Mental Health Benefits | Ellie Mental Health PLLP
Listed to Ellie’s podcast episode about Dance/Movement Therapy on Spotify. Read the transcript below:
Miranda: Welcome to the Therapist Thrival Guide. My name is Miranda. I am a licensed clinical social worker, and I’m here with Shelby. Shelby, do you want to introduce yourself?
Shelby: Hi, I’m Shelby. I’m here at the Ellie Mental Health Clinic in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am a registered intern mental health counselor, but I’m also a registered dance movement therapist. It’s interesting to have both fields and bring that to the table for people.
Miranda: So, with dance movement therapy, is that a specific degree you pursued, or is it training you received after earning your mental health or master’s degree?
Shelby: It’s interesting—the school I attended actually offers a psychology minor. I completed that along with everything else. The full title of my degree is Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Dance Movement Therapy. The school is Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and their program combines psychotherapy and dance movement therapy at the master’s level.
It’s a two- or three-year degree, and once you finish, you’re eligible to become a registered dance movement therapist. You just submit your application, log your hours, and then meet your state’s licensure requirements—whether that’s becoming an LMFT, licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical social worker, or whatever fits your state’s obligations.
Miranda: Which of those programs did you complete, or which licensure are you pursuing at this point?
Shelby: So, I have my license in dance movement therapy. You can either be a registered dance movement therapist (R-DMT) or a board-certified dance movement therapist (BC-DMT). You have to be registered first to move up to board-certified status, which requires more experience.
As a registered dance movement therapist, you can do everything a board-certified therapist can, except for things like conducting official research studies. You can still provide therapy, work with clients, and collaborate in the field. But becoming board-certified is a great next step—it just opens more opportunities.
The track for that is pretty straightforward. If you’ve done enough work within your program, you’ll continue building on that. There are always conventions and networking opportunities happening. I stay connected with my cohort, too—we all grew really close during the program. Now, we’re spread out, each bringing different viewpoints on how to apply this approach to both dance and therapy.
Miranda: That is so cool. I appreciate you walking me through that because, in my mind, it’s similar to art therapy. You can infuse creative techniques into your practice, but unless you’ve completed the specific training, you’re not a registered art therapist.
Similarly, as a licensed clinical social worker, I could incorporate some movement techniques with my clients, but that doesn’t make me a dance movement therapist. That distinction makes sense. How did you get started with this? It sounds amazing.
Shelby: It’s a long story—one with a lot of emotion and depth.
I started dancing when I was a freshman in high school and immediately fell in love with it. I always knew I wanted to combine dance with helping people. For the longest time, I thought that meant working with individuals with physical disabilities. I was especially driven to do that because I have a physical disability myself—I’m hearing impaired.
That was my focus for years. But then, in 2015, I got devastating news—my boyfriend had passed away. It was incredibly difficult. I struggled to verbalize what I was feeling. I was so young, and at the time, I was working on a dance project for class. I couldn’t bring myself to continue with the original focus, so I asked my dance professor if I could change it to help me process my grief. She said yes.
I ended up creating a video that was both a celebration of my boyfriend and our story, but it also portrayed the stages of grief. That project was a turning point for me. Something clicked. I realized there was a profound connection between physical movement and emotional healing, and I knew I wanted to explore it further.
I started researching mind-body connections but couldn’t quite find what I was looking for. Then, one day, dance movement therapy randomly popped up on my Facebook feed. I started diving into it and instantly knew, this is it. This is what I’m meant to do.
From there, I researched schools, programs, and what I needed to make this a career. I went all in. Dance movement therapy became my passion—combining mental health with creative expression. I still have the option to work with individuals with physical disabilities if I want, but the mental health aspect really resonated with me. Using movement to help people heal is so creative and fulfilling—it sparks so much inspiration in me as a therapist.
Miranda: Oh, thank you so much for sharing that. That’s incredible. I love how you recognized the healing power of movement before you even fully understood the therapeutic connection. You were processing your loss through dance without realizing how impactful it was, and now you get to help others do the same. I have chills—that’s so cool.
So, what exactly is dance movement therapy? What does it look like in practice?
Shelby: That’s a great question. When people hear “dance movement therapy,” they often think, Am I signing up for a dance class? But no—it’s not a dance class.
The foundation of dance movement therapy is the belief that movement is our first language. We don’t come out of the womb talking—we move. Even in the womb, there’s movement. It’s how we first communicate our needs.
Dance movement therapy taps into that innate language. It’s not about formal dance styles like ballet or hip-hop. Instead, it’s about exploring each person’s natural movement. What feels authentic to them? When they’re angry, how does their body express it? When they’re sad, how do they physically carry that emotion?
As therapists, we help clients reprocess and reframe emotions through movement. It’s a psychological approach that integrates physical expression into social, cognitive, and emotional healing—just like other forms of psychotherapy, but using the body as a key tool for expression and processing.
Shelby:
It’s just in a nonverbal way, but we also recognize the importance of verbalization. To be able to have that too, because once it processes in the body, they can be like, “Oh, okay, now I can verbalize this a little better.”
There are some dance movement therapists—I like to do this too—who practice a “let’s move, let’s talk, let’s move, let’s talk” approach. Then I have some people who are strictly like, “Hey, I don’t want to do verbal,” and I’m like, “Okay.” We’re just going to do movement for the whole session. It’s about bringing in those dance movement therapy skills and helping them on a therapeutic level during those times.
Miranda:
I have so many questions. This is so cool. Okay, what does your office look like? Do you have space to move?
Shelby:
In my office, I have space for me and one other person. If it goes beyond that, or if the person wants more room, I’ll move us over to the group room so they have more space.
I can also do dance movement therapy via telehealth. It doesn’t have to be in person. If any of my clients are interested in virtual sessions, I just want them to have space where they don’t feel constricted.
Also, dance movement therapy doesn’t have to be done standing. It can be done sitting, lying down, or in any way that makes the client feel comfortable—especially in the beginning when it can feel really vulnerable. Being okay with that can be hard, so I let them take the lead with some guidance. Then, we work on building up rapport and confidence in movement.
It’s fun. It’s interesting. I always do it at the client’s comfort level.
Miranda:
Do most of your clients seek you out specifically for dance movement therapy? Or do they tend to have a background in dance?
Shelby:
I have some clients who reach out specifically for dance movement therapy. They’re like, “We want this. We want a holistic approach,” because essentially, that’s what dance movement therapy is—even though we’re applying psychotherapy skills in the session without people realizing it.
Some people see me for just dance movement therapy. Others want both—they’ll say, “Hey, I want dance movement therapy, but I also want talk therapy.”
Miranda:
Sure.
Shelby:
So, I always have two plans in my head for those clients. If they’re doing talk therapy that day and need to process something, I have a plan for that. If they’re wanting dance movement therapy, I have an ideal movement plan ready.
Some people also reach out to me specifically because they want a body-positive therapist. They trust that, as a dance movement therapist, I’ll be body-positive and affirming. I’m not going to shut anything down or dismiss their experiences, which they may have faced elsewhere.
I help them build self-esteem and become more comfortable in their bodies. It’s about fostering body positivity for themselves.
Miranda:
Oh, that’s so cool. When you’re doing dance movement therapy, I think I know the answer to this, but it’s not like you’re saying, “Alright, we’re going to process your grief now, so these are the movements you do for grief,” right? It’s not that structured—it’s more client-led, with whatever movements feel right for them?
Shelby:
Definitely. It’s based on movements that feel comfortable for them, but as the therapist, I’ll gently challenge them to push further when appropriate.
I create treatment plans with my clients. With dance movement therapy, I’ll ask, “What do you want to focus on? Grief? Trauma? Anxiety? Depression?” Then, we set goals and priorities.
For example, if someone comes to me for trauma, I might have them draw something out. Then I’ll say, “Okay, now let’s move with this. How does this move you?” It gets their creativity flowing and helps them explore what their experience looks and feels like through movement.
It’s their story. It’s like they’re becoming the narrator of their story through movement—expressing what their trauma felt like or what they actually experienced.
I have some clients who’ve suffered from domestic violence. If they were choked or held down, they might show those movements. I know the areas of the body where they’ve suffered, and we can work on processing those experiences through movement.
As the therapist, I’m observing and assessing in the moment—while also helping them process. It’s very client-led, but it can also be structured if they feel more comfortable with that. I always check in and say, “This is your body. This is your movement. How your body moves is different from how mine moves. What does this look like for you?”
Miranda:
I would imagine it’s very different from a dance class. It’s not like you’re teaching them specific dance moves. It’s more about showing how their body processes emotions, right? Asking, “What does that movement look like for you?”
Shelby:
Exactly. I’ll also bring in props if I notice someone is struggling.
If I sense they feel “stuck,” I’ll bring out a bunch of props and say, “What do you gravitate toward?” It helps them express their feelings tactically.
A lot of people choose my dancing scarves—these see-through, colored fabrics. The colors can represent emotions. For example, some people pick orange or yellow for anxiety. It’s interesting to see the connections they make.
As they work with the prop, I’ll ask, “How does this feel for you?” Then, I’ll guide them to incorporate it into their body movements. “Where do you feel this in your body?” It helps with the transition into deeper movement exploration.
Miranda:
That’s awesome. A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode on self-care with a therapist (shoutout to Taylor!) who talked about how she processes stress by dancing after work.
I was so inspired by that. Dance is such a great way to release feelings and move your body—especially for therapists who sit all day. Even just being silly or shaking off stress can be so helpful.
I’m curious, what role does music play? Do you choose the music, or do clients choose their own?
Shelby:
It’s different for all ages. With kids, music is huge, of course.
The type of music matters. For example, if we’re working on grief but the music is really upbeat, the client might shift away from processing and just match the music’s energy. As the therapist, I have to assess: “Have they processed enough and now they need this change, or do we need to refocus and switch the music?”
I have several dance movement therapy playlists. Some people get overwhelmed choosing music, so I’ll offer playlists with different moods. I have grounding music—more mellow, meditative tracks—and more intense emotional music that still includes some grounding elements.
If clients bring their own songs or playlists, I fully support that. I just ask that we’re mindful of explicit lyrics since we share office space with other therapists and clients of all ages.
Miranda:
That makes sense.
Shelby:
If a client’s music has explicit content, I’ll ask them to find a clean version. That way, they still feel validated by their music choice while maintaining a therapeutic environment.
Miranda:
Are clients ever choreographing routines, or is it more free-flowing? Like, do they say, “I’m going to dance to this song next week,” or is it different each time?
Shelby:
It can be either way—there’s so much creativity in dance movement therapy.
I’ll ask clients, “Do you want this to be free-flowing, or do you want it choreographed?” Some want something special and structured, like what I did in my own video. Since I was a dancer, mine was choreographed.
If a client wants to choreograph, I’ll honor that. It can be challenging, so I’ll support them through it. But if they want free-flowing movement, I’ll honor that too. It’s entirely based on their comfort level.
Miranda:
That’s great. I’m assuming you’re moving with them—you’re not just sitting and watching, right?
Shelby:
Exactly. Most of the time, I’m moving with them unless they tell me otherwise. I don’t want them to feel alone or like I’m critiquing them. Moving together helps create connection, and I can still observe and assess while participating alongside them.
I’ll mirror exactly what they’re doing—nice and easy—whatever they feel comfortable with. If they say, “Hey, I’m done,” then we’ll close it out. And I’ll ask, “How did that feel for you? What did you notice, especially with the trauma story?”
When they’re doing that mirroring, it can be really liberating for them to finally have someone who’s reflecting their movements. It’s like saying, “I understand what you’re feeling. I hear your narrative. I’m validating your feelings and moving through this process with you.”
I actually did my dance movement therapy thesis on trauma and how to apply these techniques for different trauma situations. It’s fascinating to use dance movement therapy techniques to help someone rewrite their narrative through movement.
Miranda: Mirroring is such a cool concept. I can see how helpful that would be for people. What are some other techniques you often use with clients that are similar?
Shelby: My go-to technique is something I call a body map.
The body map can be whatever the client wants it to be, but it helps both of us see what’s happening in their body. I don’t typically introduce it in the first or second session. I usually wait until there’s more rapport built. When we do it, they create a body map.
There are two ways to do this, depending on their comfort level. They can either trace their body on a large poster board or use a smaller, printed outline of a human figure. On the map, they label emotions they feel in certain areas or identify triggers, like words or music, that evoke specific sensations.
For example, if they feel anxiety in their hands and I notice their hands shaking during a session, I’ll say, “We talked about this during the body map. This is a trigger. You’re feeling anxious right now. Let’s pause and ground.”
Often, people place sensations in their stomach. I’ll notice that they start slouching or cowering inward, almost as if they’re protecting their stomach. That body language tells me a lot, and the map helps me recognize and respond to it.
I always do another body map when they’re ready for discharge. It gives us a visual representation of any changes. We can look at it together and say, “This is how dance movement therapy helped you.” It’s a tangible way for them to see their progress.
Miranda: That’s such a cool tool. I often have Gina on the podcast—she was my clinical supervisor—and she does EMDR, mostly with kids. She talks about using body maps a lot to help kids identify feelings and where they experience them physically. I love that you incorporate this into dance movement therapy too.
Do you mostly work with kids, or do you see adults as well? What ages do you typically work with?
Shelby: It’s all ages. Dance movement therapy has no restrictions. We can adapt it to fit anyone’s needs.
If I have elderly clients, I tailor the movements for their abilities. I also see younger women, and sometimes younger boys. As they get older, boys are often more hesitant due to the stigma around doing something artistic. But I have worked with some older boys who are willing to challenge that stigma.
Overall, dance movement therapy is completely adaptable. There are no restrictions on mental health diagnoses, age, or physical abilities.
Miranda: That’s so important—and so cool—because I can imagine some people might wonder, “Can I do this if I have mobility restrictions?” It’s great to hear how flexible and inclusive it is.
Do you have certain diagnoses or presenting issues that are your niche or that you prefer to work with?
Shelby: I’m pretty open, but I do tend to see a lot of clients with trauma. This includes sexual assault, physical assault, and childhood trauma.
Everyone knows the book The Body Keeps the Score, but it’s true—your body really does hold onto trauma. I often work with people who feel like they’ve cognitively processed their trauma through talk therapy, but they’re still experiencing lingering physical symptoms. That’s where dance movement therapy helps bridge the gap by connecting the mind and body.
I also work with people processing grief. Grief can make you feel physically weighed down, like you can’t even walk. Through movement, we practice releasing some of those heavy, chained feelings.
I see a lot of clients with anxiety as well. Many of them recognize that their anxiety shows up in their body before it registers in their mind. So, they come to me wanting to learn how to regulate their physical symptoms first, knowing that the cognitive response will follow.
Dance movement therapy is also helpful for people with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. When I worked in a facility, I saw a wide range of diagnoses. It really just comes down to whether the person is open to the experience. If they’re hesitant, we explore why. Are they afraid something might surface? Or do they simply feel it’s not their thing? It’s fascinating to see how different people respond.
When I was at the facility, I often ran dance movement therapy groups. People would ask, “Are you doing individual dance movement therapy sessions?” and I’d say, “Yes, but only a few per week.” The group format was more common. We’d choose a topic and work through it together using movement.
Miranda: A dance movement therapy group is such a cool idea—I hadn’t even thought about that! Do you choose the music and topic each week, or how does that work?
Shelby: I always choose the music. When you have a large group, it’s hard to cater to everyone’s preferences. That’s where my playlists come in handy—I have a variety to fit different moods and themes.
I do ask them for topic suggestions, though. Boundaries is a big one that comes up a lot. We work on identifying physical boundaries and building the strength to say “no.”
Anxiety and stress management are also frequent topics, along with depression. Sometimes, the group gets super specific, but I try to keep things broad and relatable so no one feels left out. I want everyone to feel they belong, no matter their experiences.
Miranda: When you choose the music, do you typically go for instrumental or with lyrics?
Shelby: It depends. Sometimes I’ll ask, “Do you prefer lyrics or instrumental?” and go with a majority vote. I remind them they’ll get through the group either way, and to just breathe through it.
Other times, I’ll choose the music myself and have it playing softly before they even enter. It helps set the tone and creates a welcoming atmosphere.
Some dance movement therapists always have music playing beforehand, while others don’t. Personally, I like giving the group the chance to experience some quiet before we start—it gives them more agency. When they get to participate in those little choices, I notice their eyes light up.
I always make sure the lyrics are clean, of course. Lyrics can be powerful. People often resonate with specific verses or chords. That emotional connection adds another layer of processing. It’s not just about the movement—it’s about making meaningful connections between mind and body.
For me, it’s all about being flexible. Everyone has their own preferences, and I want to make sure the group feels accessible and effective for all.
Miranda:
For a therapist who’s listening to this, who might be thinking, I didn’t go to school for dance movement therapy, but I have a client who would probably really benefit from doing some dancing in sessions, how would you recommend they approach that?
Maybe it’s a good opportunity for grounding, or maybe it’s a chance to help release some anxiety. What recommendations would you have for a therapist who just wants to dip their toes into it and help their clients?
Shelby:
Grounding is the easiest one for me. When I was starting in the dance movement therapy world, it was easier for me to grasp. There are so many ways you can help someone ground through movement—whether that’s small or big.
In dance movement therapy, breath is huge. We want to make sure we’re breathing while we’re moving. But also, if you notice someone starting to hyperventilate, it’s important to take that moment to be there with them.
I like to add an extra layer to breathwork. I don’t just say, “Okay, listen to my voice and breathe in and breathe out.” I want clients to feel their breath. So, I’ll have them place their hands where they’re comfortable. If they’re stomach breathers, I’ll have them place their hands on their stomach to feel the rising and falling. If they breathe more through their ribs, I’ll have them place their hands on the sides of their ribs or on the front and back, so they can really feel the breath happening.
Tapping is another great one. It’s not hugely well-known, but guiding clients through tapping on their wrist, temples, or center of their chest can signal the body that it’s okay. It creates a new sensation to focus on, helping them get grounded.
I also use progressive muscle relaxation—tensing and releasing different muscle groups. When people get anxious, their bodies often tense up, especially in the shoulders and neck. Leading them through some gentle stretching or progressive muscle relaxation can help release that tension.
Another technique I use for grounding is guided visualization. I have clients visualize their safe or peaceful place, walking them through the path to get there. Once they’re there, I have them take a few breaths and then start incorporating movement. I’ll guide them to imagine moving in their peaceful place and begin mirroring that movement in their body.
So, while they’re mentally in their safe place, their physical body is also moving, keeping them present. It’s often a lot of flowing arm movements, especially if they’re sitting down. You’ll see gentle, wave-like motions because they’re regulating themselves.
To bring them back, I’ll say something like, “Okay, let’s bring your hands together. Take a deep breath in, let your arms circle out, and then come back into the present moment.” I’ll ask, “How was it to be in the present moment and grounded at the same time?” And clients are often like, “Whoa, what was that?”
For kids, I’ll do something playful, like patty-cake, to shift their focus and bring in some fun. Sometimes, I’ll use a coping and grounding skill sheet with random body movements and have clients try them out. It gets creative and spontaneous, which can be really effective.
One piece of advice I always share: try it on yourself first. If you have an idea for a grounding technique but aren’t sure how it will feel, practice it yourself before doing it with a client. That way, you have a sense of how it might land and feel more comfortable guiding them through it.
Miranda:
Okay, you’ve given so much good advice—this has been such an awesome episode. I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your personal connection to this work, as well as giving such practical tips for how therapists can start incorporating movement into their sessions.
Any last thoughts or anything you feel we’ve missed about dance movement therapy?
Shelby:
It’s an ever-evolving field. Therapy as a whole is always changing—there’s constant research happening. Dance movement therapy has been around for a long time, but it wasn’t always recognized as evidence-based. Now, we’re seeing more and more research proving its effectiveness.
There are dance movement therapists currently working on applying cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques to dance movement therapy sessions. That way, it can be more easily billable through insurance and provide clients with even greater benefits.
Trauma work has always been a big focus for dance movement therapy, but seeing these additional modalities incorporated is exciting. It makes me think, “Ooh, what does this do for the field moving forward?”
Miranda:
Thank you so much again for joining me, Shelby. This has been such an insightful episode, and I really appreciate you sharing your expertise.
And thank you to everyone listening! I hope this conversation was helpful and inspiring. See you next week!
