Dance Movement Therapy in Pasadena, Maryland
Healing and communicating through dance and movement
Dance Movement Therapy
Are you experiencing high levels of stress and burnout due to the demands of your job and family. Do you feel emotionally drained and overwhelmed by the challenges and needs of others? Maybe you find it challenging to express your emotions verbally; bottling them up leading to pent-up frustration and occasional bouts of anxiety and depression.
Are you someone who finds themselves stuck or lacking a sense of purpose – uncertain on where to go in your life? Perhaps you recognize the importance of self-care but have struggled to find activities that speak to this part of you. Are you looking for a holistic approach that can address emotional well-being and provide a sense of relaxation and release?
Do you find that when you create any kind of movement (working out, running, dancing) that you feel better? Are you finding that a change in how you do therapy is needed? Dance Movement Therapy can help.
We are creatures of movement. We actually do not do well when we don’t move. Even a simple stretch can create changes instantaneously. Dance movement therapy can do that and more. It pairs talk therapy with movement, creating a more lasting and effective change than most counseling modalities.
Movement is an intentional intervention on the part of the therapist, and a choice for the client, never a requirement.
What is Dance Movement Therapy?
Dance Movement Therapy is a form of creative arts therapy that uses movement and dance as a therapeutic tool to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well-being. It is based on the idea that the body and mind are interconnected, and that movement can be a powerful means of expressing and processing emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
This form of therapy uses various forms of movement, such as dance, gestures, and body movements, to express and communicate emotions and thoughts that may be difficult to articulate verbally. Since the majority of human communication is non-verbal, movement can be a way for individuals to explore and convey their inner feelings and experiences without the need for words.
It’s important to note that Dance Movement Therapy is not about teaching dance; instead, it focuses on the therapeutic benefits of movement and dance for acheiving an individuals goals. One does not need dance experience to engage in Dance Movement Therapy, as it is accessible to people of all levels of physical ability and mobility.
Some of the goals and skills learned through Dance Movement Therapy include addressing mental health and relationship issues. Using a range of movement-based techniques, including improvisational dance, guided movement exercises, and structured choreography. The therapist tailors these techniques to the client’s specific needs.
What characteristics make dance movement therapy work!
Being Open-Minded
Having a Creative Spirit
Having a Desire for Personal Growth
Wanting to Develop a Stronger Physical Awareness
Dance Movement Therapy in Pasadena, MD can help so why choose it…
Choosing Dance Movement Therapy for you healing or personal growth offers unique benefits and can be a valuable approach in addressing various physical, emotional, and psychological challenges.
Not everyone can engage in traditional talk therapy. Many people actually find engaging in a more non-verbal form of expression allows them to connect more with the end goal of therapy. By allowing for this creative outlet of self-expression, many find themselves better able to communicate and process their feelings through movement and dance.
Trauma Healing is also another area where dance movement therapy is effective. Since traumatic experiences are often held in the body, making it difficult to verbalize; dance movement supports individuals in processing and releasing trauma through embodied movement, promoting healing and resilience.
When you are connected with your body, you become more naturally self-aware. And self-awareness leads to greater insight, growth, and self-discovery.
Learning to regulate emotions is often the number one reason people seek out counseling. Dance Movement therapy has the ability to support someone who wants to regulate their emotions through use of movement.
Other reasons to choose Dance Movement Therapy include better social and communication skills; improved self-esteem; the ability to tap into your creativity which may be blocked; and can teach you stress management skills.
Since Dance Movement Therapy can be adapted to any individuals needs, it makes it a great choice in therapy. Since its not as common, you may be hesitant to try it but its important to note that you can work into this type of therapy over time.
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul, and through dance, we can express and heal what words alone cannot.”
– Martha Graham
Try Dance Movement Therapy Today!
At Turning Stone Counseling, we believe in using a variety of ways to help people heal and grow. The Creative and Expressive Therapies are a great way to find relief from symptoms, align with your core values, or develop a greater sense of connection.
Dance Movement Therapy will:
› Walk you through a thorough assessment of your needs.
› Psychoeducation about what may helpful in the process of therapy.
› Tools and strategies to feel more grounded, making everyday life easier.
› Using Dance Movement Therapy is an intentional choice and can only happen when your ready to lean into the movement of the work.
Our therapist is Board Certified in Dance Movement Therapy but also uses other approaches to support your needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Acceptance-Commitment Therapy, Expressive and somatic therapies, along with education and support.
Our Therapists who use Dance Movement Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dance Movement Therapy right for me?
If you have read through the above and it resonates with you, Dance Movement may be a good fit. However just like with talk therapy, you won’t know until you try AND you may still need to make sure that you have the best therapist fit as well. Any form of therapy may or may not be the right fit due to factors like timing, therapist connection, the presentation of the therapy, etc. We invite people to try it and see if its right for you.
Is Dance Movement Therapy a recognized therapy?
Yes! Dance Movement Therapy is a recognized and valued holistic approach to helping individuals with their mental health symptoms. According to the Association of Dance Movement Therapists, dance and movement were first noticed to show improvement in individuals back in the 1940’s. There has been alot of research to support it as an evidenced based approach. Here is a meta-study supporting its efficacy.
How will I know dance movement therapy is working?
As with any type of therapy, progress doesn’t have a timeframe and is based on many factors like matching goals between the client and therapist as well as the severity of the symptoms when treatment starts. There is no one size fits all when it comes to therapy so what may work for one person may not work for another. Its important to have conversations with your therapist about expectations.
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