Dance/ Movement Therapy The book “Expressive Therapies” edited by Cathy A. Malchiodi, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, art therapist, and expressive arts therapist, introduces all of the major expressive art therapies. In one of its chapter “Dance/Movement Therapy”, Suzan T. Loman, the director of the Dance/Movement Therapy Program, discusses the outline of dance/movement therapy and introduces different kinds of methods of dance/movement therapy. According the Loman, dance has been used for healing since early human history, yet it officially started used for therapy in the 1960. People who developed dance/movement therapy made connection between their experiences in modern dance and the expression of emotions, authenticity,
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It is a basic tool,which was developed by Martin Chace, “a major pioneer in the field reflected”(Malchiodi 71), to establish nonverbal relationships between therapists and patients : it is called mirroring or attunement. She focused on working in groups, utilizing rhythmic body action, and communicating through dance and movement. The mirroring activity helps to build up trusting and meaningful contact with patients. Another approach which is widely used in the field is Integrated Developmental Approach. Dance/movement therapists help patients to understand and accept their blocks, regression and delay by observing developmental phases in movements. This approach is based on psychodynamic, ego psychological, Jungian and relation models. Moreover, many of the therapists integrate the practice of “authentic movement” which was first developed by dance therapist Mary Whitehouse. It allows a group of participants a type of free association of the body. For authentic movement practice, there will be mover who frequently lie on or move close to the ground and analyst/witness who observe the …show more content…
It helps individuals to release feelings, stress or tensions throughout movement. From my experience in this class, moving our body actually helped me to release stress. Specifically, making movements in front of the picture of our conflicts we drew was really effective to me. Before we started that activity, I was not sure how it would be helpful to heal ourselves. However, when I was doing it, I put tension to my hands and upper body and released the tension after that. I sat down and moved my arms as well. Then, I was not expecting, yet tears came out of my eyes. To be honest, I was not sure what I was doing while I was doing the activity. However, after I got out from the class, my heart felt lighter than
It is a basic tool,which was developed by Martin Chace, “a major pioneer in the field reflected”(Malchiodi 71), to establish nonverbal relationships between therapists and patients : it is called mirroring or attunement. She focused on working in groups, utilizing rhythmic body action, and communicating through dance and movement. The mirroring activity helps to build up trusting and meaningful contact with patients. Another approach which is widely used in the field is Integrated Developmental Approach. Dance/movement therapists help patients to understand and accept their blocks, regression and delay by observing developmental phases in movements. This approach is based on psychodynamic, ego psychological, Jungian and relation models. Moreover, many of the therapists integrate the practice of “authentic movement” which was first developed by dance therapist Mary Whitehouse. It allows a group of participants a type of free association of the body. For authentic movement practice, there will be mover who frequently lie on or move close to the ground and analyst/witness who observe the …show more content…
It helps individuals to release feelings, stress or tensions throughout movement. From my experience in this class, moving our body actually helped me to release stress. Specifically, making movements in front of the picture of our conflicts we drew was really effective to me. Before we started that activity, I was not sure how it would be helpful to heal ourselves. However, when I was doing it, I put tension to my hands and upper body and released the tension after that. I sat down and moved my arms as well. Then, I was not expecting, yet tears came out of my eyes. To be honest, I was not sure what I was doing while I was doing the activity. However, after I got out from the class, my heart felt lighter than