Dance/movement therapy is unique among psychotherapeutic disciplines in that the therapist’s own body is not only a tool for observation, but also a vessel for communication, empathy and presence. Unlike traditional talk therapy, where much of the therapeutic relationship unfolds through dialogue, dance/movement therapy operates in the realm of the body — a non-verbal, visceral space where subtle cues, unconscious expressions and shared movement experiences can speak volumes. This makes the therapist’s own embodied awareness an essential part of the therapeutic process.
The Body as Instrument
In dance/movement therapy, the therapist's body is not neutral. It is an instrument for sensing, responding and relating. Just as a musician must tune their instrument, the DMT practitioner must attune to their own bodily state. How the therapist breathes, holds tension, mirrors the client, or maintains physical boundaries can all influence the therapeutic dynamic.
Before even beginning a session, the therapist may take a moment to centre themselves — noticing their breath, their posture, the weight of their feet on the floor. This act of grounding helps create a stable internal environment, allowing the therapist to be fully present and responsive rather than reactive.
Therapists who are attuned to their own bodies are better able to detect the nuanced shifts in energy, emotion and physicality that clients express. These might appear in the form of subtle gestures, changes in rhythm, movement hesitations, or posture. A therapist who is embodied can receive this information without intellectualising it, and instead, respond with empathy that is felt rather than spoken.
Embodied Countertransference
One of the most significant aspects of a therapist’s embodied awareness is the phenomenon of countertransference — the emotional or physical responses a therapist experiences in relation to the client. In traditional psychotherapy, countertransference is often discussed in terms of emotional responses such as frustration, protectiveness or discomfort. In DMT, countertransference may also be experienced somatically.
A therapist might notice their chest tightening as a client speaks, or find themselves unconsciously mirroring a client’s rigid posture. These embodied responses can offer powerful clues about the client’s inner world, especially when the client is not yet able to articulate their experience verbally.
For example, if a therapist consistently feels drained or physically heavy in the presence of a particular client, this may reflect the emotional burden the client is carrying — or perhaps a resistance in the therapeutic process. Rather than reacting impulsively, the embodied therapist becomes curious about these sensations, using them as data to inform the therapeutic direction.
Of course, it’s essential that therapists distinguish between their own material and what is emerging in response to the client. Regular supervision and personal therapy are vital in maintaining this clarity. Through these processes, the therapist can explore their own triggers, histories and patterns that may surface in the work.
The Ethics of Embodied Practice
Because the body is so central to the therapeutic encounter in DMT, issues of boundaries and ethical awareness are especially crucial. The therapist’s presence must be both open and boundaried, warm yet professional. Clients may be highly sensitive to proximity, movement cues, or touch, depending on their histories and needs. It is therefore the therapist’s responsibility to ensure that physical boundaries are communicated clearly and maintained respectfully.
Touch, if used, must always be consensual, clinically justified and in line with the ethical guidelines of the professional body. Many DMT practitioners choose not to use touch at all, relying instead on movement mirroring, spatial dynamics and energetic presence to foster connection. When touch is incorporated, it is done with careful attention to safety and meaning.
The therapist’s body also communicates availability, containment and attunement. The way a therapist enters the space, the way they sit or stand, even the rhythm of their movements can convey a great deal to a client. These nonverbal cues must be used with care, ensuring they support the therapeutic goals and not the therapist’s unconscious needs.
Movement Mirroring and Resonance
One of the most powerful embodied tools a DMT practitioner uses is movement mirroring. This involves reflecting a client’s movement in a way that affirms, deepens or explores their expression. Mirroring can validate a client’s experience, build trust, and create a sense of being seen. It can also offer new perspectives — for example, by exaggerating a movement slightly or introducing variation, the therapist might invite the client to explore new ways of moving and feeling.
To mirror effectively, the therapist must be deeply present in their own body, capable of tracking both their own sensations and those of the client. This dual awareness requires practice and discipline, as well as a comfort with spontaneity and improvisation.
Beyond mirroring, therapists also engage in movement resonance — the subtle, shared rhythms and energies that emerge when two people move in synchrony or in attuned contrast. This resonance creates a powerful sense of relational depth and can often lead to moments of insight or emotional release.
Embodiment as a Lifelong Practice
For the dance/movement therapist, embodiment is not a skill that is mastered once and for all. It is a lifelong practice of self-reflection, movement exploration and self-care. Therapists must tend to their own bodies with the same compassion and curiosity they offer their clients. This might include engaging in their own movement practices, attending workshops, or seeking supervision that incorporates somatic reflection.
The body holds the stories, tensions and triumphs of a therapist’s own life, and these will inevitably influence how they relate to clients. Rather than striving for perfection, therapists aim for awareness — recognising when their own material is present, and using that awareness to strengthen the therapeutic relationship.
Embodiment also means acknowledging the social, cultural and political dimensions of the body. A therapist’s body is not seen in a vacuum; it is perceived through the lens of race, gender, age, ability and more. These aspects can shape the therapeutic dynamic in complex ways. An embodied therapist is one who reflects on these realities, acknowledges their impact, and works towards creating inclusive and responsive therapeutic spaces.
The Body as Guide, Mirror and Messenger
In dance/movement therapy, the therapist’s body is far more than a background presence. It is a guide that senses, a mirror that reflects, and a messenger that responds. Through conscious embodiment, the therapist becomes a finely tuned instrument of support, capable of holding space for clients in ways that transcend words.
This embodied presence is not performative — it is authentic, grounded and relational. It allows the therapist to meet the client in the immediacy of the moment, to listen with their whole being, and to offer interventions that arise not just from theory, but from lived connection.
By staying present in their own body, the dance/movement therapist invites the client to do the same. Together, they move toward healing — not just through insight, but through sensation, rhythm, and the rediscovery of safety and aliveness in the body.
