A comparative analysis of body psychotherapy and dance movement psychotherapy from a European perspective

Abstract

The role of embodiment within contemporary psychotherapy practice and its discussion are gathering momentum, and are part of a paradigm shift in psychotherapy in which theory and practice are being reformulated. Body Psychotherapy (BP) and Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) are playing a leading role in these deliberations. Although these two professions have separate professional bodies, distinct theoretical grounding and clinical methodology, they both place enormous value on the central role of the body and its movement as indicators of relational problems, and as agents of therapeutic change. There are few authors comparing and contrasting Body Psychotherapy and Dance Movement Psychotherapy although they have much in common as they are both embodied, enactive psychotherapies. However, neither their overlaps in theory, methodology and some of their clinical practice nor their distinct character have been sufficiently delineated. This article elucidates some similarities and differences in fundamental assumptions, compares and contrasts definitions and terms, and considers common and contrasting theoretical perspectives, techniques and methods. It is expected that this will contribute to the on-going discussion of the articulation of core characteristics in both professions and will facilitate a better understanding and collaboration between them.

Integrating Citizenship, Embodiment, and Relationality: Towards a Reconceptualization of Dance and Dementia in Long-Term Care

“…46 These particular dance programs interweave dance and psychotherapy based on the premise that movement reflects patterns of cognitive reflection and emotion and that remediating posture or autonomic nervous system activity will influence neurological processes thought to be implicated in mood, perception, sensory experience, cognition, and well-being. 47 Research on dance in the context of dementia care has focused primarily on its therapeutic and clinical benefits. For example, dance therapy has been found to: decrease verbal/physical aggression and anxiety; improve emotional states, cognition, orientation, mobility, and balance; and reduce falls.…”

“…46 These particular dance programs interweave dance and psychotherapy based on the premise that movement reflects patterns of cognitive reflection and emotion and that remediating posture or autonomic nervous system activity will influence neurological processes thought to be implicated in mood, perception, sensory experience, cognition, and well-being. 47…”

The experience of attunement and misattunement in dance movement therapy workshops

“…Dance movement therapy (DMT) is based on kinesthetic intersubjectivity. The therapeutic relationship is formed through movement and dance (Payne, 2006;Payne et al, 2016). The therapist uses his/her own bodily movement "to meet" the client where he or she is, through his/her movement patterns.…”

“…The therapist uses his/her own bodily movement "to meet" the client where he or she is, through his/her movement patterns. In this somatic relationship, the therapist connects with the cli-entʼs movement patterns and mirrors them back to him/her with attuned movement patterns (Samaritter and Payne, 2013;Payne et al, 2016). Dance movement therapy is a therapeutic modality, in which the therapist interprets the clientʼs movement and uses kinesthetic empathy to form an understanding of the clientʼs inner state.…”

“…From a phenomenological perspective on embodied cognition, the mind is not simply reduced to brain processes in the head, but is distributed across the brain, body, and environment (Gallagher, 2005;Gallagher and Payne, 2015). Dance movement therapy focuses on movement analysis and the idea of changing movement, which directly affects changes in cognition and emotion (Payne et al, 2016;Koch, 2006;Fuchs, 2009). Embodiment supports the idea of unity of body and mind, and the reciprocal influence of body attitudes and emotional and cognitive states (Koch et al, 2017).…”