About
Movement Psychotherapy
Movement Psychotherapy, also known as Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) allows the individual to use verbal and non-verbal communication to freely express oneself. DMP offers new ways to explore and address any psychological problems or challenges. The sessions give an opportunity to build on any positive/negative social, emotional, cognitive and physical aspects of oneself. A therapeutic relationship is built through the client and therapist as well as with other group members. The use of the body helps to explore and understand any past and ongoing patterns and behaviours that may need addressing, and the sessions offer a safe space to creatively explore. Some individuals may find words and emotions difficult to express. DMP promotes physical movement and dance to exert, understand and work through any emotional energy.
DMP was founded in the 1940s in the United States and the 1980s in the UK and is practiced in many countries. It is regarded as an art therapy, which includes music, art, play, and drama therapy. All Dance Movement Psychotherapists are registered and regulated and have been through specific training. DMPs offer services to many client groups and vulnerable individuals, they can work in private services, schools, hospitals, charities, prisons, social services, and care homes.
Session Structure
This is an example of a general structure of a Movement Psychotherapy Sessions
Warm-up
During the warm-up we will have a verbal check-in, encouraging you to gently warm up your body. We will focus on how you feel in the present moment and may find areas of emotional or physical tension or relaxation. The warm-ups are held and guided by me but open for you to lead in how you are feeling and what you would like to bring to the session.
Release
During the release section, you will be encouraged to move your body freely, perhaps experiencing insight into how you choose to move in a learned unconscious pattern. This can give you more insight into how your movement patterns influence your everyday emotions, behaviours, and relationships.
Theme development
Themes can be referred to as patterns that arise during the sessions, this can be through body movements or verbal communication. These themes may be found through reaching, stretching, releasing, rhythms, sharing movement with the therapist or group, your space and direction, your impulses, your motivation, and your preferences, amongst many different things. The themes can then be linked to patterns in your life that can then be released and reframes.
An example,
You find that you often feel that people sit or approach too close for your comfort. A Dance Movement Psychotherapist may help you to explore this through movement, looking at your preferences for kinaesthetic boundaries and where and when you feel that the person causes feeling and thoughts of threat.
Space is something that is learned during childhood, when you also develop a sense of who you are, exploring your ideas of spatiality may reveal a need for more attention, a sense of insecurity around others, or something else individual to you. It may reveal moments in your life that you felt you were not allowed space or given too much space.
Centering and grounding
Centering involves being present and in the ‘here and now’ and bringing your awareness to your body. Through grounding, it can bring a sense of security and awareness from which you can explore the themes that have arisen for you in greater depth. This can involve looking at memories and current difficulties.
Closure
The closure is a thoughtful way to wrap up/close the session. The sessions will end by coming together with the therapist (and/or the group) to share your experience of the session and reflect in whichever way that you want, either through movement, words or drawing.