Find out how to Do Dance Remedy: 4 Methods
Dance therapists use varied strategies to allow purchasers to raised perceive their very own and others’ emotions and participate extra totally in human relationships (Loman, 2005).
Mirroring
Mirroring is a well-liked instrument utilized by dance therapists to determine nonverbal relationships. The therapist joins the shopper as they transfer, mirroring them to provoke trusting and significant contact.
Attunement
Intently linked to mirroring, attunement entails motion empathy. “Muscular tensions felt in a single individual are felt within the different” (Loman, 2005, p. 72).
Therapists don’t have to duplicate the shapes and gestures of the shopper, however can as a substitute transfer towards a much less intense, soothing sample to calm an upset grownup or youngster.
Built-in improvement
Therapists observe and work by way of the shopper’s developmental phases utilizing the facility of motion.
The method can assist the shopper progress by way of psychological roadblocks, regressions, and delays of their improvement and private relationships. “A developmental dance/motion orientation addresses a person’s intrapsychic, interpersonal, and religious evolution” (Loman, 2005, p. 73).
Genuine motion
Genuine motion is used to achieve again to a shopper’s earlier experiences. The person lies on or close to the bottom, attending to bodily sensations and recreating a state of affairs much like that of an toddler immersed in a sensory world.
The connection is between the mover (the shopper) and the witness (the therapist). “The center of the follow is in regards to the longing, in addition to the concern, to see ourselves clearly” (Loman, 2005, p. 73).
4 Workout routines & Actions for Your Classes
Many workouts and actions out there to the dance therapist assist purchasers of all ages reconnect with their bodily, psychological, and religious selves.
Usually, they’re carried out in both teams or pairs (Loman, 2005; Karkou et al., 2017; Lachetta, n.d.), and we share a number of actions right here.
Embodying a personality
The therapist asks the shopper to decide on a personality from a e book, film, or play — maybe a superhero, cartoon character, villain, and even an animal.
Subsequent, they’re tasked with embodying that character by way of dance and motion.
The therapist guides them by way of the actions and helps them discover totally different feelings and experiences related to their character.
Group circle dance
The group varieties a circle and begins dancing collectively to a particular rhythm or beat in a chunk of music chosen by the therapist to encourage connection and collaboration.
They’re requested to concentrate to their very own and others’ actions as they dance.
After a couple of minutes, the therapist suggests they fight synchronizing their actions throughout the group to create a way of unity and togetherness, breaking down individuality and inspiring connection.
Tuned strolling in pairs
Purchasers type groups, strolling facet by facet whereas listening to music or sounds by way of headphones. Every pair could have a singular piece of music.
The therapist chooses the music or sounds based mostly on a particular theme or temper, equivalent to nature sounds or upbeat music.
As they stroll, the companions attempt to synchronize their steps with the rhythm of the music or sounds.
They’re requested to concentrate to the sensations of their physique as they stroll and attempt to keep in tune with their companion.
Motion mirroring
Companions face one another and take turns mirroring their actions.
The therapist guides the pair by way of totally different actions, equivalent to gradual, fluid, quick, and energetic, probably including music.
As they try to repeat one another’s actions, they’re requested to concentrate to how their physique feels and the bodily patterns made by their companions.
They need to attempt to create a way of stream and connection between every of their very own actions and people of their companion.
Many of those workouts are so useful in therapy as a result of they construct belief and connection between companions and throughout the group (Loman, 2005).
Changing into a Dance Therapist: Programs & Certifications
There are a lot of choices for learning dance remedy, from certification to bachelor’s to grasp’s levels (on-line and in-person). So, it’s critical to contemplate the syllabus, price, location, and whether or not the timings give you the results you want.
The next is a consultant pattern of what’s out there.
Introductory Research in Dance/Motion Remedy Certificates: College of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin, US
College students study in regards to the expertise concerned in expressing and understanding emotion by way of motion, the background and principle of dance remedy, and easy methods to use motion evaluation throughout therapy.
Novice dancers are launched to how therapists can use motion in violence prevention, habits administration, and social expertise improvement.
Discover out extra on their website.
Grasp of Arts in Dance/Motion Remedy and Counseling: Drexel College, Pennsylvania, US
This program integrates dance and motion right into a whole-person strategy to psychological well being.
It’s designed to fulfill an growing curiosity in thoughts–physique approaches to psychological and bodily well being which have emerged in well being occupation circles and most people.
Having graduated, college students work in varied settings, equivalent to faculties, early intervention applications, neighborhood psychological well being, inpatient psychiatric, medical, social service, and wellness settings.
Discover out extra on their website.
Grasp of Arts in Dance Motion Psychotherapy: Goldsmiths, College of London, UK
The course offers college students a broad understanding of the ideas and practices of dance motion remedy.
By way of theoretical and motion commentary research, dance follow workshops, medical work, and experiential studying, the learner integrates cognitive understanding and sensible expertise with a creating consciousness of self and others.
Every scholar can also be inspired to develop their very own dance/motion follow.
Discover out extra on their website.
On-line Coaching: 3 Programs and Applications
There are only some on-line programs for dance remedy, almost definitely due to the topic’s bodily nature. Nonetheless, we’ve got listed two of our favourite low-residency programs beneath.
Certificates in Dance/Motion Remedy: Antioch College–New England, New Hampshire, US
Whereas not completely on-line, this low-residency, three-year program provides the newest modern data on the self-discipline of dance/motion remedy as a thoughts–physique strategy in therapy.
College students develop a strong theoretical framework by way of analysis papers and integrative studying tasks that observe every course and purchase all of the follow wanted for making use of to the American Dance Remedy Affiliation.
Discover out extra on their website.
Grasp of Arts in Scientific Psychological Well being Counseling: Dance/Motion Remedy: Lesley College–Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
This MA is one other low-residency possibility. Many of the work is on-line, with a three-week summer season residency at Lesley College’s Cambridge campus.
College students study to handle people’ emotional, cognitive, bodily, and religious well being utilizing dance as a lens for commentary, analysis, and intervention.
Discover out extra on their website.
In case you are eager to pursue dance remedy as a profession, head on over to our publish Find out how to Grow to be a Therapist for extra steerage and perception.
3 Fascinating Dance Remedy Books
Dance remedy is an interesting discipline of research. The next three books supply invaluable insights into this highly effective therapy combining thoughts and physique
1. The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Wellbeing – Vicky Karkou, Sue Oliver, and Sophia Lycouris
The e book supplies an in depth assortment of extremely invaluable chapters exploring the analysis and principle behind dance remedy and its many makes use of.
Maybe no different e book supplies such a well-rounded view of the potential of dance to enhance psychological wellbeing. In doing so, it considers views from neuroscience, well being, neighborhood, training, psychology, and sociology.
Discover the e book on Amazon.
2. Expressive Therapies – Cathy A. Malchiodi
This textual content is an important learn for anybody serious about dance remedy, regardless of being initially written in 2005 and having just one chapter centered completely on the topic.
Susan Loman, who wrote the chapter on dance motion remedy, totally expresses her love for dance and the will to assist others, offering a short historical past of dance as a therapy and diving into the most important theoretical interventions.
The rest of the e book provides equally fascinating discussions of different expressive therapies, equivalent to psychodrama remedy, expressive arts remedy, music remedy, and play remedy.
Discover the e book on Amazon.
3. Dance/Motion Remedy for Trauma Survivors: Theoretical, Scientific, and Cultural Views – Rebekka Dieterich-Hartwell and Anne Margrethe Melsom
This intensive assortment explores the various elements concerned in trauma, in troopers, victims of intercourse trafficking, refugees, and past, and the potential for dance remedy as therapy.
It supplies important sources for clinicians and professionals wishing to know how such thoughts–physique interventions can assist restore on a regular basis functioning to survivors of traumatic occasions.
Discover the e book on Amazon.
Related Sources From PositivePsychology.com
We’ve got many sources out there for therapists to discover the bodily and psychological elements engaged in dancing, music, and motion.
Our free sources embrace the next:
- Deciphering Physique Language
With a lot of our communication being nonverbal, it’s useful to raised perceive the alerts concerned in physique language. This worksheet encourages the reader to replicate on physique language shows matching particular feelings. - Being Current
Consciousness and presence are very important for efficient communication and could be enhanced by way of deep engagement with others utilizing actions equivalent to dance. The Being Present worksheet can be utilized as a information for reflection throughout remedy.
Extra intensive variations of the next instruments can be found with a subscription to the Constructive Psychology Toolkit©, however they’re described briefly beneath:
- Utilizing Music to Specific Emotions
Music is a strong instrument and expertise for expressing feelings.
This train encourages a wealthy and deep understanding between shopper and therapist and a greater consciousness within the shopper of how they really feel at totally different instances.
-
- The first step – Establish three songs which are essential to you.
- Step two – Ask your self a sequence of questions for every one, together with:
While you hear this tune, how does it make you’re feeling?
Which a part of the tune is most essential to you? - Step three – Collectively, replicate on the solutions to type a deeper connection.
- Conscious Strolling
How we transfer is commonly missed. With mindfulness, we are able to study to really feel extra current and grounded.- The first step – Stand nonetheless, turn out to be conscious of the bottom and the way the burden could be transferred from one foot to a different.
- Step two – Start strolling usually.
- Step three – Discover the sensations round your ft: your sneakers and the way the heel and ball of the foot contact the bottom.
- Step 4 – Slowly transfer your consideration up your leg and your physique to your arms and head.
- Step 5 – Concentrate on every space, consciously stress-free every half.
- Step six – While you cease strolling, discover the way it feels to now not be in movement.
A Take-Residence Message
Dancing feels good. After we reminisce about transferring to music, we almost definitely bear in mind enjoyable, engagement, and forming deep bonds with these round us.
Analysis reveals us that it has a far-reaching and therapeutic impact on our our bodies and thoughts, serving to us by way of trauma, nervousness, and stress.
Additionally it is a strong method to join or reconnect with the self and others, dropping limitations and overcoming unfavourable ideas which have blocked our development.
Dance is so liberating that it provides a strong instrument for escaping the pressures of day by day life and leaves the dancer feeling engaged, energized, and motivated for what’s forward.
The advantages don’t finish there. As a part of remedy, dance can assist overcome emotional struggles and enhance vanity and self-confidence whereas enhancing bodily, cognitive, social, emotional, religious, and artistic processes (Karkou et al., 2017).
Dance remedy has the potential to assist people of all ages turn out to be conscious and join with their complete selves — thoughts, physique, and spirit. Shifting to music can assist folks regain a way of their physique’s capability for expressiveness and discover a chance for pleasure of their lives.
It’s an action-oriented and spontaneous intervention for creativity, development, and therapeutic that psychological well being practitioners can mix with many different therapeutic approaches.
We hope you loved studying this text. Don’t neglect to obtain our three Constructive Psychology Workout routines at no cost.
.png)
