What is movement and dance therapy? What does a movement therapist or dance therapist do?

Movement and dance therapy is an independent form of therapy that works with the artistic means of dance, with the body and its movement possibilities.

Impact and objectives are on three levels:

• PhysicalIt balances tension, promotes body awareness and supports self-acceptance.
• Mental-spiritualIt improves presence and access to one's own resources, and serves to reduce stress and improve emotional balance.
• Social competenceIt has a positive effect on cooperation and communication skills, social responsibility, empathy and leads to self-confident, authentic behavior.

What does the actual work of movement and dance therapists look like?

Movement and dance therapists work with individuals and groups. Their clients come on medical prescription or of their own accord.

They first talk to new clients to find out the nature of their complaints and limitations as well as their motivation, wishes and hopes. They check the body's mobility and movement sequences to identify any restrictions, misalignments, etc. and combine their observations with medical reports and findings.

Together with the client, they then agree on therapy goals, determine suitable therapeutic methods and procedures and draw up a therapy plan. During therapy, they continuously monitor developments and progress, adapt the therapy plan if necessary and develop it further when the next steps are possible. They document the steps and results of the dance therapy on an ongoing basis.

In the case of clients who are being treated by various specialists, dance and movement therapists exchange information with them and, if necessary, pass on their therapy results to them.

Dance therapist / movement therapist" courses