Dance Therapy

As stated by the American Dance Therapy Association, dance therapy is the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual”. Dance therapy uses nonverbal communication to add a depth of dimension to therapy to help manage behavioral or psychological concerns that words alone may not address. Movement is used throughout the work of psychotherapy as a primary factor in observing the client, assessing their needs, and then as a part of the interventions themselves. 

Dance therapy has roots in the modern dance movement of the late 19th century, as artists began to use dance to express complex emotional concepts. In the mid-20th century, aspects of psychodynamic theory were added to existing ideas. By 1966 the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) was formed to facilitate development, training, and certification standards for the field. Shortly thereafter, the American Journal of Dance Therapy—the ADTA’s official journal—was founded. 

Dance/movement therapy combines aspects of a number of frameworks, including humanistic theory, psychodynamic theory, and gestalt theory. Practitioners must pursue a graduate degree to become a dance therapist, earning one of two credentials through the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA).

Dance therapy, also called dance movement psychotherapy, may be offered as individual or group sessions, and depending on the therapist and the needs of the client, may either be non-directive, or highly structured. Typically, a session includes a warm-up and cool-down phase, with periods of observation, assessment, and interventions. 

Some of the interventions in a dance therapy session include:

• A focus on the sensations of the body, and the breath (mindfulness practices)
• Mirroring, which is an intervention where copying another person’s movements is used to build feelings of empathy and create connections 
• Learning to recognize and process feelings evoked by movement
• Guiding the client through improvised and self-expressive movements
• Exploring connections between feelings and movement
• Using jumping rhythms in dance for those experiencing depression, as studies show that these individuals show decreased levels of vertical movement

Sessions can be highly personalized based on the client’s needs. Dance/movement therapists consider the client’s ability to use their body, their level of feeling safe with movement, and their personal comfort. 

Some sessions can be conducted mainly on a verbal level, while others may involve mostly movement. This may change from session to session.

Dance therapy may be used as a treatment for a number of physical conditions and mental health challenges, and may be especially helpful for those with self-esteem or body-image challenges. Other conditions that dance movement therapy is used to treat include:

• Depression or anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)²
• Dementia 

Additionally, according to an article published in the American Journal of Dance Therapy, dance therapy may be beneficial for couples engaging in relationship counseling.

It may not be the best fit for eating disorders, like anorexia³ or bulimia,⁴ at least at first. With these conditions, there may be serious challenges with excessive exercise, which dance therapy may trigger or exacerbate. In most cases, dance therapy isn’t practical as a sole treatment for these disorders—instead, it may be used as a supplement to other professional treatments if deemed appropriate. 

Certain chronic illnesses or disabilities can make dance therapy difficult, as well. If an individual is fragile, has medical complications, or experiences low energy levels, dance therapy may be less easy to participate in. However, a dance therapist is often trained to adapt their techniques to meet the needs of their client, so this factor alone may not be a deterrent. 

Finally, there are some individuals who have experienced trauma who may not be ready to use movement as an expression of their experience and emotions. In these cases, another form of treatment may be more appropriate.

For those experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

A meta-analysis published in 2019 found that dance/movement therapy showed consistent improvements in affect-related psychological conditions with decreased anxiety and depression levels and increased cognitive skills and quality of life. Dance interventions saw a consistent improvement in motor skills. While the research looks promising, the authors of this analysis call for more evidence, as the research studied was limited by methodological shortcomings. 

In a study published in the American Journal of Dance Therapy, researchers found that dance therapy can improve well-being through several changes that occur at the molecular level. These include increases in HDL (“good”) cholesterol, serotonin, and estrogen.  

A systematic review of dance therapy for patients with chronic heart failure from 2014 found that compared to the control groups of selected randomized control trials, patients who participated in dance therapy showed improvement in exercise capacity (VO2 peak levels) and improved reported quality of life. The researchers concluded that dance therapy could be considered as an addition to cardiac rehabilitation programs. 

Dance therapy may also help limit the negative effects of sleep disorders. Participants in a study published in the American Journal of Dance Therapy experienced reduced insomnia symptoms after dancing the tango. Additionally, in a systematic review examining the effectiveness of dance therapy for individuals with depression, researchers found that depressive symptoms were reduced in all eight studies.  

Further research on the effects of dance therapy can be found through the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA.org).

Dance therapy is a specialized treatment, and as such, it may take a bit of research to find dance therapists in certain geographical locations. Internet research may be the place to start; in fact, the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) offers a directory that can help you find a dance/movement therapist in your area. Alternatively, there might be a state or local dance therapy association that serves your region. You may also ask your healthcare professional for recommendations, or talk to friends or family who might have some ideas. 

Online therapy can also be an option for finding more specialized therapy. With online therapy platforms like BetterHelp, you can fill out a simple questionnaire to be matched with a therapist who meets your needs within about 48 hours. Because the therapists work entirely online, proximity isn’t a factor in finding a dance therapist with whom you can work. Therapy sessions can then be held over video conferencing, voice calls, and messaging.