Discovering Dance Therapy And Movement Based Treatment

By Joshua Reed


When an individual thinks of therapy, or a therapist, one generally pictures a psychiatrist or psychologist and a couch. Movement based treatment or dance therapy is a different and unique form. It is a form in which different styles of dance are used to enhance bodily emotional, intellectual and motor skills. Whether dancing at a free form community dance, or acquiring therapy, doing so often has the ability to heal body, mind and soul.

Therapists working in dance therapy often use a four stage approach when providing treatment. These stages include, preparation, illumination, evaluation and incubation. First the therapist evaluates the mover, creates a treatment plan, illuminates the issues then institutes the plan for a specific incubation period.

Unlike free-form, non-alcohol, barefoot dance works to awake body, mind and soul in a community setting. Whereas, dance oriented therapies are provided in a clinical setting. Still, free-form dance is great exercise which can also help to alleviate stress among those in attendance. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of each mover, some may find a closer connection to self, others, spirit.

While this type therapy has only been recognized in the United States and Europe since the 1930s, with more development in the 1950s, it is nothing new. Dance and movement therapies have actually been used in the Near East, Greek and Roman civilizations for thousands of years. In fact, it was not until the 1950s when a choreographer, dance teacher and therapist noticed the positive effects movement had on a number of students that dance became an acceptable form of treatment.

Up until the time it was discovered that dance had an effect on the mover, movement was seen primarily as an expressive art. Dance and movement were then established as therapies in the 1950s. After which, a number of professional psychotherapists decided to begin work in the field.

These dance oriented therapies can be divided into two distinct waves. The first involves the use of dance as related to the medical community. Once a well known therapist noticed the effects movement had on clients, a larger field of movement therapy was formed. Once several clients had reported success in overcoming emotional and physical issues, more therapists started providing these type services.

Students began to report feelings of overall well being which attracted the attention of others in the medical field. A few doctors began sending clients to classes. It was not long after that a therapist would begin a movement based therapy program at a well known hospital in Washington D. C. It was at this hospital that a number of trials took place. These trials often showed some aspect toward positive change in the life of the individuals participating in various forms of dance therapy.

A new ideology related to dance therapy was formed in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, a number of therapists began exploring and experimenting with this new aspect of treatment. Several therapists started developing new and exciting applications in the process. After which, these application based therapies were matched with the healing needs of clients.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment