Dance Therapy
The American Dance Therapy Association defines Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of the individual." This mode of mind-body intervention therapy uses the body as the vehicle for both assessment and healing and is rooted in the belief that the mind and body are reciprocally integrated with each other. In DMT, the client and dance therapist utilize both nonverbal and verbal cues. This form of therapy, although categorized under the psychotherapeutic creative arts therapies, differs from the traditional verbal psychotherapy and is accessible to a broader range of individuals, especially those whose fundamental obstacle to cure may be the inability to verbally communicate.
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Dance Therapy ​
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Who can benefit from a dance therapy session?
Individuals of all ages can benefit from a dance therapy session. The sessions may be conducted as a one to one session or in a group setting, depending on the personal needs of the client.
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Which does a typical dance therapy session entail?
Because the individual needs differ from individual to individual, there is no "typical" session. What is consistent is the use of movement to both analyze and heal, a concept based on the theory of "mirroring." When there are gaps in my understanding of an individual's movement, I start to mirror the individual's movement so that I can enter what is affecting the individual at a deeper level. Once I can understand, I can treat. This process can be complex and requires my highest degree of focus and awareness to be able to embody how the individual feels mentally and emotionally, and how these are manifesting physically.
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What are common conditions for which I use dance therapy?
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Depression
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Parkinson's disease
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Anxiety
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Autism
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Cognitive issues
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Stress​
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Attention deficit disorder
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Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
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How do naturopathic medicine and dance movement therapy promote healing?
As a holistic practitioner, my primary goal is to facilitate my clients' self-healing processes and help them integrate their own functioning by forging a healing relationship. From the angle of a naturopathic doctor, I respond to the totality of the symptoms an individual presents – taking into consideration the health of their patients on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual plane, both subjectively, and objectively. From the angle of dance therapy, I respond to individuals' movements, body language, non-verbal behaviors, and emotional expressions so that I can develop tailored interventions to address their specific needs.
