Dance therapy is a psychotherapeutic method. Movement, dance and therapeutic conversations are used to integrate physical, emotional, cognitive and social contexts.
Therapeutic conversations, sensory aspects of perception and creative processes are combined according to personal needs in order to maintain or promote mental health.
Psychotherapeutic theory-practice models of the established schools of psychotherapy were adapted by the dance therapy pioneers in relation to the body, physicality, design and expression. There is therefore a place for depth psychological, behavioral, systemic and humanistic approaches.
The client and therapist decide together, taking into account personal needs, preferences and therapeutic requirements, whether the focus should be on therapeutic conversation or movement. This can vary from appointment to appointment. Sometimes it is 'enough' to make reference to the body during the conversation or to listen to a particular song.
© 2024 Nina Ridderbecks
