“Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul’s weather to all who can read it” – Martha Graham
“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophies.” – Friedrich Nietzche
From the beginning of time, humans have used dance and movement to express themselves, connect with each other and heal. Unfortunately, in the age of science and rational thinking we have sometimes forgotten the wisdom of the body and the creative process. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) brings the body and creative expression back into healing.
Since the 1940’s, dance/movement therapists have pioneered using the body/mind connection to facilitate healing from a variety of mental and physical disorders. DMT, as defined by the American Dance Therapy Association, “is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual.”
In DMT we believe that all feelings and life experiences live in the body and thus the body can be the key to unlocking profound levels of healing. You do not have to be a dancer to benefit from DMT. DMT is not a dance class and the focus of individual, family and group sessions is not on specific dance techniques. Instead, in DMT we use the power of simple, everyday movements and creativity to help clients identify feelings, express them safely and move to happier, healthier places in their lives.
The use of body-based interventions such as DMT is particularly important for clients living with eating disorders or trauma. Such clients have learned to disconnect from the needs and basic wisdom of their bodies and talk alone is often not enough to help reconnect them in a safe and joyful way.
If you would like to learn more about how DMT can help you, please click on the links below or contact me us at info@eatingdisordersabq.com
“If you cannot find it in your own body, where will you go in search for it?” – The Upanishads
American Dance Therapy Association
Information sheets on Dance/Movement Therapy
Video: Dance/Movement Therapy and Eating Disorders
Video: Katie’s Story: Dance/Movement Therapy
This post was written by Margaret Migliorati MA, LPCC, R-DMT, NCC
Call 505-266-6121 for more information, questions, or to make an appointment.