When a body
moves, it’s the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I’ll tell you
who you are. Mikhail Baryshnikov
Dance movement therapy is a form of psychotherapy that
uses movement to promote emotional, cognitive, physical, and social well-being.
It is a relatively new field that has gained popularity in recent years due to
its effectiveness in treating a range of mental health issues, including
depression. Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects millions
of people worldwide. Dance movement therapy has been found to be an effective
treatment option for individuals who are struggling with depression. In this
article, we will explore how dance movement therapy helps with depression, the
science behind it, and how it can be integrated into treatment plans for
depression.
Understanding the body in motion
Dance movement therapy goes beyond simply dancing. DMT uses dance and movement to promote insight, integration and well-being, as well as to diminish undesirable symptoms in various clinical populations. Unlike mainstream talk therapies, DMT uses the entire body to approach the participants primarily on a non-verbal and creative level. The body in motion is both the medium and the message. DMT recognizes the moving body as the center of the human experience, and that body and mind are in constant reciprocal interaction.
Just like with more traditional psychotherapies, DMT can be applied in a wide range of ways. It may involve talking, different types of music or no music at all. It can be done in groups, with individuals or with couples. Therapists sometimes dance with their clients and at other times observe.
A group therapy session may involve a warm-up and check-in as to where we are at emotionally, mentally and physically. It may be followed by the development of a theme, which emerges spontaneously or has been prepared by a therapist (for example, working with difficult emotions). It ends with grounding (reconnecting with our bodies and ourselves in the present moment) and closure (for example, a gesture, a sound, a word).
All of this is done with our bodies in motion or stillness, but some verbal sharing, journaling, drawing and other elements may be added.
Dance movement therapy has been around for several decades but it has never become widely popular, possibly due to a lack of well-designed research studies. This has changed and I would like to highlight here a few recent studies supporting the benefits of dance and DMT on emotional regulation, cognitive function and neural plasticity.
Physical benefits of dance movement therapy
Dance movement therapy has numerous physical benefits for individuals
experiencing depression. It can improve cardiovascular health, enhance
flexibility, and reduce muscle tension and stiffness, all of which can
contribute to an improved sense of well-being.
Emotional benefits of dance movement therapy
One of the significant benefits of dance movement therapy is its ability to
facilitate emotional expression and release. It can help individuals
experiencing depression explore and express their emotions in a safe and
supportive environment, leading to a sense of empowerment and increased
self-awareness.
People come to dance to modify their emotional state; typically, they strive to feel more joy and happiness and to reduce stress and anxiety. Since its inception dance therapy, similar to somatic psychotherapies, has emphasized the reciprocal interaction between body and mind, and the ability to regulate emotions via changes in body postures and movements.
The exploration of new movements can evoke novel perceptions and feelings. It may also facilitate seeing a wider range of possibilities in a given situation. Some new or old movement patterns may evoke repressed material and enhance better understanding of oneself and one’s environment and history.
One of the most compelling studies supporting this idea examined complex improvised movements, and identified unique sets of movement components that can elicit the feelings of happiness, sadness, fear or anger. The associations between emotions and specific motor components have been used in the past for diagnosis or emotion recognition. This study goes further and proposes specific techniques for modifying emotions.
A recent systematic review of research on dance/movement therapy specifically found it to be effective in the treatment of adults with depression. Another small 2021 study of 27 people hospitalized with major depressive disorder found that a combination of medication and a dance program enhanced patients’ feelings of self-efficacy, compared to those who were only given medication.
Social benefits of dance movement therapy
Dance movement therapy often takes place in a group setting, which can provide an opportunity for social connection. Engaging in a shared activity with others can reduce feelings of isolation and promote a sense of community, which can be particularly helpful for those experiencing depression.
Changes in brain structure
Dancing engages extensive areas of the cerebral cortex as
well as several deep brain structures.
A recent descriptive systematic review included eight well-controlled studies, all of which demonstrated changes in brain structure following dance intervention. These changes included: increased hippocampal and parahippocampal volume (involved in memory), increased gray matter volume in the precentral gyrus (involved in motor control) and white matter integrity in the corpus callosum (involved in communication between the two hemispheres).
Overall, these studies are compatible with the idea of using dance and DMT in various neurological and psychiatric disorders — such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and mood disorders — as well as in the general population.
New possibilities for feeling and perceiving
It is clear that dance has a powerful effect on the human body and psyche. DMT from its inception emphasized that the body is inseparable from, and in constant reciprocal interaction with, the mind. As such, sensations, perceptions, emotions and thinking affect our body and the way we move. By observing the body, we can deduce mental states.
Conversely, our posture and our movements have the power
to transform our mental states, to evoke repressed memories, to release
spontaneity and creativity, to reorganize our brains. New ways of moving and
dancing may produce new ways of feeling and perceiving the world.
Techniques used in dance movement therapy
Dance movement therapy (DMT) uses various techniques to
encourage clients to explore and express their emotions through movement. Here
are some of the techniques used in DMT:
1.
Freeform Movement - this technique involves
allowing the client to move in whatever way they feel comfortable, without any
particular choreography or structure.
2.
Guided Movement - this technique involves the
therapist guiding the client through a specific movement or dance sequence. The
movement may be related to the client’s emotions or experiences.
3.
Mirroring - this technique involves the
therapist and client mirroring each other’s movements, creating a sense of
connection and trust.
4. Props - the use of props such as scarves or balls can be helpful in allowing clients to explore their movements more freely and creatively.
Integrating Dance Movement Therapy into Treatment Plans for Depression
DMT can be integrated into treatment plans for depression in various ways. For
example, it can be used as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with other
modalities, such as talk therapy or medication. Additionally, DMT can be
adapted to meet the needs of individual clients, based on their unique symptoms
and goals.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://thewire.in/science/from-depression-to-parkinsons-disease-the-healing-power-of-dance
https://psychcentral.com/depression/dancing-for-depression#how-dancing-helps-depression
https://healthnews.com/family-health/healthy-living/benefits-of-dance-movement-therapy/
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161439958.pdf
