Dance Movement Therapy

important foundation in understanding the broader scope of how dance can be seen as a

We will examine specifically the pattern associated with beliefs about what it means to “dance”. Our Free Child is polluted with subconscious patterns of meaning about dance. This effects our choices, functioning and relationships as men and women in respect to what type of therapy suits me as both client and professional. We will use DMT experiences to observe and explore our individual patterns of what dance means to us while TA will serve to analyze the meaning of the old and to integrate new patterns of meaning for

This paper explores my main question, “how does movement through dance affect the mental and emotional dimensions of wellness?” I will explore the many unknown benefits that come from dance as well as share expressions of my personal thoughts on the subject. I will also share my personal experiences as well as others’ experiences with dance. In the research portion of my paper, I will cite studies supporting both the mental and emotional benefits of dance. This paper will also explore the perspective of a professor of dance, as well as the lived experiences of actual dance students. My interview will support my paper as it reinforces the findings in literature. I will discuss my future plans on the subject of mental and emotional dance; stressing the need for individuals to dance as the benefits can be

Over the last five years, the dance industry has grown annually by 2.9%. (IBIS World) With an increase in studios, classes and performances, one must question why dance is becoming popular once again despite the statistics of eating disorders and injuries. Regardless of possible injuries and eating disorders, studies have been taken proving the tremendous benefits associated with dancing. According to Ladock, the greatest benefits of dance are weight loss, muscle tone, posture, flexibility, balance, kinesthetic awareness and mood improving. While injuries are often

Creative therapy sessions, included dance, drama, music and movement activities, which were implemented over an eight-week period, a minimum of three times a week. Observational outcomes of creative self-expression, communication, pleasure and enjoyment, and general engagement were recorded. As a sample of the study, all patients attending one of the two community units - unit A or unit B, both of which provide day treatment and inpatient care - were invited to take part in dance, drama, music and movement activities. Consent for involvement in the project and the use of photographs was obtained from patients or their family members. The data collection tool was developed by the project lead and the clinical governance support team, and was not piloted. To maintain anonymity all participants using the tool was assigned an identification number that remained with them throughout the eight-week evaluation period. The data collection tool was designed to record information on attendance, activities including warm-up and session closing strategies and outcomes of the creative therapy sessions in relation to creative self-expression, communication, pleasure and enjoyment, and general engagement. The member of staff running the activity recorded the degree of improvement seen in the participant during each session. No improvement was

People encounter various challenges in life ranging from diseases, lack of basic essential needs and psychiatric problems among others. This has given rise to various forms of therapies being adopted by specialists whilst offering solutions to depressed individuals. Group therapy has taken a center-stage in the management of depression. Butler et al (2008) in their article titled "Meditation with yoga, group therapy with hypnosis, and psychoeducation for long-term depressed mood: a randomized pilot trial" show that depression and anxiety form part of the well-known conditions named by individuals seeking treatment using therapies and complementary alternatives. Alternative therapies include yoga, qigong, tai chi, mediation, and exercise. They argue that people are increasingly using these therapies. Butler provides information claiming that yoga and exercise are effective therapies with high rates than uncontrolled activities (Butler, et al 2008). The authors also demonstrate that these therapies can be compared to established anxiety treatments and depression treatments such as sertraline, cognitive behavioral therapy, and imipramine.

It is really odd to get treatment in only thirty minutes for a person who was struggling with depression and has tried numerous antidepressant medications and many types of psychotherapy without any success. She either did not have depression in the first place or they did not do enough research about this treatment. Also, any physical activity, like sports, increase the flow of endorphins to the mood-modulating happiness hubs in the brain and it is not limited to only the dancing.

Guidetti et al.’s (2015) study followed ten pairs of dancing partners through three experimental trials: a traditional salsa lesson, a Rueda de Casino lesson, and night club salsa dancing. The study concluded that all three types of salsa dancing generated an intensity level necessary to achieve health benefits, with the Rueda

Yoga isn’t only beneficial to the body but also the mind. Recreational therapists can take advantage of this by applying yoga techniques to improve the mood and reduce feelings of irritability and apathy for individuals with Major Depressive Disorder. Moreover, the participants should have been previously diagnosed with MDD, which according to the DSM-V means they have shown five or more of the following symptoms during the same two weeks and represent a change from previous functioning. The symptoms related to MDD also stated in the DSM- V are: a depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day, a diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue, feelings of

This article demonstrates the effectiveness of dance therapy in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms, which I chose to include as a coping strategy.

As children, people are often encouraged to pick up hobbies related to physical fitness to maintain their health and keep them active. As aging occurs, sometimes involvement in sports and physical activities weans off. Dancing is an activity that many partake in, whether it be on the professional stage or in the comforts of the home. To many, dancing brings joy and studies have shown that dancing can reduce anxiety.

This report aims to determine the efficacy and benefits of exercise in the management of depression, which is classified by the World Health Organisation as a mood disorder. In order to place exercise therapy into context, conventional methods for treating clinical depression are discussed. A personal meta-analysis is then undertaken, summarising the findings of studies that have explored the clinical significance of physical exercise as an intervention in treating depression. The advantages and disadvantages of such an intervention are described, and

This study was a randomized controlled trial which also included an “active control condition” (another treatment that is usually/normally provided to a people in a given situation). In this case, the active control condition was the general activities, which included handwork, shuffleboard, cooking, and puzzles. The two therapies (music and general activities) were offered twice weekly over a period of four months. Behavioural changes were measured four times during the intervention period (for both groups) [1 hour before session, 1 hour after session, 2 hours after session, and 4 hours after session], and the changes were measured using a modified CMAI (Cohen-Mansfield Agitation

Moreover, an additional study reported similar enhancement in mood and enjoyment following a 12-month community-based Argentine tango dance intervention program (Foster et al., 2013). All of the participants explained a willingness to participate in future dance programs. This was a single blind randomly controlled trial with 52 participants above 60 years old. A subjective standardized measure known as the Activity Card Sort was used. The findings from this study supported and increased the validity of Hackney and

Dance therapy can be helpful to a wide range of patients--from psychiatric patients to those with cancer to lonely elderly people. Dance therapy is often an easy way for a person to express emotions, even when his or her experience is so traumatic he or she can't talk about it. It is frequently used with rape victims and survivors of sexual abuse and incest. It can also help people with physical deficits improve their self-esteem and learn balance and coordination.