Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is a form of psychotherapy that uses movement and dance to support the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of individuals. At its heart, DMT is based on the idea that the body and mind are interconnected — that how we move affects how we feel, and how we feel is expressed through how we move. Unlike traditional dance, which may focus on technique, choreography, or performance, DMT is not about how well someone can move, but about what their movement expresses and how it can facilitate healing.
The Origins and Development of DMT
The roots of dance/movement therapy can be traced back to the early 20th century, when pioneers such as Marian Chace, Mary Whitehouse, and Trudi Schoop began to explore the therapeutic potential of dance. These practitioners noticed that people often experienced emotional shifts through expressive movement, and they began to bring dance into hospital and mental health settings as a form of treatment.
Over time, DMT evolved into a recognised therapeutic discipline, integrating knowledge from psychology, physiology, somatics, and the arts. In the UK, dance movement psychotherapy is often referred to using the acronym DMP, while in the US, DMT is the more common term. Regardless of terminology, the approach continues to be shaped by both clinical research and creative exploration.
What Happens in a DMT Session?
A dance/movement therapy session can vary widely depending on the therapist’s approach, the client’s needs, and the setting. Some sessions take place one-to-one, while others are offered in groups. Some are highly structured, with specific themes or movement exercises, while others are more improvisational and client-led.
Sessions often begin with grounding exercises to help clients become present in their bodies — this might involve focusing on breath, posture, or gentle movement. From there, the therapist might invite clients to explore movement in response to a theme, an emotion, a piece of music, or even a sensation in the body.
The therapist observes and sometimes mirrors the client’s movement, creating a nonverbal dialogue. This process can bring unconscious feelings to the surface, allow for emotional release, or support the development of new ways of moving and being.
DMT is often used alongside verbal reflection. After moving, clients may be invited to speak about their experience, draw an image, or simply sit in silence to integrate what has emerged. The key is that movement becomes a way of accessing and working with psychological material in a way that words alone may not allow.
Who Can Benefit from DMT?
Dance/movement therapy can benefit people of all ages and backgrounds. It is used with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in a variety of settings — including hospitals, schools, care homes, prisons, rehabilitation centres, and private practices.
Some people come to DMT with specific mental health diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or schizophrenia. Others may seek support during life transitions, grief, relationship issues, or simply a desire for greater self-awareness.
DMT is particularly effective for people who struggle with verbal communication, who have experienced trauma, or who feel disconnected from their bodies. Because it works through nonverbal expression, it offers a pathway into therapy that feels less intimidating or less constrained by language.
It is also a valuable modality for people who already have a strong relationship with their bodies — such as dancers, athletes, or yoga practitioners — and want to explore that relationship in a deeper, more emotional way.
Core Principles of Dance/Movement Therapy
Although DMT encompasses a range of techniques and theoretical approaches, several core principles are consistent across the field:
- The body and mind are interconnected. Movement reflects our inner experience, and changing how we move can change how we feel.
- Movement is meaningful. All movement, no matter how subtle, can carry psychological and emotional significance.
- The therapist-client relationship is central. Healing happens in relationship, and the therapist’s presence, attunement, and responsiveness are key.
- Expression leads to integration. By bringing unconscious or unexpressed feelings into conscious awareness through movement, clients can move toward greater wholeness.
- The process is client-centred. Each person’s movement language is unique, and the therapist supports the client in exploring it in their own way, at their own pace.
DMT Compared to Other Forms of Therapy
Dance/movement therapy shares some similarities with other forms of expressive therapy, such as art therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy. All of these modalities use creativity as a means of expression and healing. DMT, however, is distinct in its use of the body as the primary tool of exploration.
Compared to talk therapy, DMT offers an experiential, somatic approach that may be especially helpful for those who feel “stuck in their heads” or struggle to articulate emotions verbally. It provides a more embodied route to insight and change.
In recent years, DMT has also found its place within the broader field of somatic psychology — a discipline that emphasises the role of the body in psychological healing. As research continues to support the benefits of body-based therapies, DMT is gaining greater recognition and integration into mental health care systems.
Training and Qualifications
Becoming a dance/movement therapist typically involves postgraduate-level study in a recognised training programme. In the UK, this is often a master’s degree in dance movement psychotherapy, with clinical placements and personal therapy as part of the training. Practitioners usually register with professional organisations such as the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK (ADMP UK).
Training includes the study of movement analysis, psychotherapy theory, ethics, anatomy, and supervised clinical practice. Therapists are also expected to continue their professional development throughout their careers, keeping their skills sharp and their practice informed.
A Pathway to Wholeness
Dance/movement therapy is not about dancing well. It is about reconnecting with the self — through gesture, breath, rhythm, and presence. It is about noticing how we inhabit our bodies, how we move through space, and what our movement says about how we feel.
Whether someone is moving through grief, exploring identity, recovering from trauma, or simply seeking a deeper connection to themselves, DMT provides a compassionate and creative space for exploration. It reminds us that healing is not just something we think our way through — it is something we live, breathe, and move through. One step at a time.
