Dance/Movement Therapy and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Reflection of Clinical Practices and History

Abstract

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is a strengths-based approach to psychotherapy that uses dance and movement as the primary form of communication, while emphasizing the movement relationship in addition to verbal dialogue. Positive and negative symptomatology of a diagnosis on the schizophrenia spectrum often disrupt organized thinking, orientation to reality, overall functioning, communication, and healthy relationships. Therefore, a body-based psychotherapeutic approach can be a pragmatic way to support, join, and process with people who have a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). This paper explores the positive and negative symptoms of SSD, bodily manifestations of these symptoms, and particular ways to use DMT as a psychosocial treatment option. The use of creativity with this population can support a psychotherapeutic relationship focused on personal strengths, individuality, community development, and unconditional acceptance. This paper is grounded in the historical framework of DMT, particularly considering the theoretical work of Marian Chace and Trudi Schoop. The work is also substantiated anecdotally through the authors’ respective clinical practice with individuals diagnosed on the schizophrenia spectrum and through individual research focused on working with individuals experiencing acute and chronic manifestations of SSD. A brief overview of the current research has been included.

Dance/movement therapy as a holistic approach to diminish health discrepancies and promote wellness for people with schizophrenia: a review of the literature

“…Dance/movement therapy is a treatment option that addresses physical ( Conceição & Neto, 2016 ; Lopez-Nieves & Jakobsche, 2022 ; Neto et al, 2014 ), mental ( Biondo et al, 2021 ; Bryl et al ., 2020 ; Karkou et al, 2019 ; Kerney et al , 2023 ; Koch et al, 2019 ; Levine & Land, 2016 ; Milman et al, 2021 ; Tomaszweski et al, 2023 ), and social aspects of participant wellness ( Biondo et al, 2021 ; Bryl & Biondo, 2022 ; Takahashi et al, 2019 ). More recently, DMT frameworks have been explored and expanded to be inclusive of embodied, neurophysiological theories.…”

“…Moreover, the nonverbal relationships possible through DMT can allow for increased joining and attuning with those who may have communication differences. These components of invitation for people with schizophrenia truly meet each participant where they are in their wellness process and destigmatize the diagnosis, allowing an authentic development of healthy ego, self-efficacy, and relationship ( Biondo et al , 2021 ; Bryl & Biondo, 2022 ).…”

“InMotion”—Mixed physical exercise program with creative movement as an intervention for adults with schizophrenia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Dance movement therapy has been used for people with schizophrenia since 1940s initiated by Marian Chace and Trudy Schoop ( Bryl and Biondo, 2021 ). Several techniques of dance movement therapy, like mirroring, body action and group interaction, have been used in enhancing body awareness, agency for own body, attention, and emotion recognition and regulation of people with schizophrenia ( Bryl and Biondo, 2021 ). Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies suggest that dance movement therapy can improve positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia (e.g., Lee et al, 2015 ; Martin et al, 2016 ; Bryl et al, 2020 ; Millman et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Mirroring movement is a core technique of the Chacian approach on dance movement therapy in which the therapist creates empathic movement reflections in an interaction with the patient to connect deeply and authentically ( Bryl and Biondo, 2021 ). Chace believed that by recognizing and recreating a meaningful gesture, posture, or simple movement at the right moment, trust in the therapeutic relationship could be established, which further, could lead to the patient’s willingness and ability to communicate difficult or repressed feelings and thoughts ( Klingberg and Buchkremer, 2000 ).…”

“…Working with and enhancing body awareness, movement and agency for own body and action are the core elements dance movement therapy ( Bryl and Biondo, 2021 ). In dance movement therapy with people with schizophrenia, it is documented that bodily disorganization, which is one of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia observed as unsynchronized or contradictory movements in various parts of the body, often mirrors cognitive disorganization and depersonalization ( Wade et al, 2017 ).…”