Dance / Movement Therapy
Credentialed creative-arts therapy that uses movement and body awareness to support psychological, emotional, and relational goals.
Dance/movement therapy (DMT) uses movement and body awareness as its primary therapeutic method, based on the idea that mind and body are interconnected, and that emotional patterns show up in how we move, hold ourselves, and relate physically to others. Practitioners hold a specific credential (R-DMT or BC-DMT) through the American Dance Therapy Association. Sessions can include structured movement exercises, mirroring another person's movement, or simply noticing how your body responds to different emotional states. No dance training or ability is required, the focus is on authentic movement and awareness, not choreography or performance.
Credentialed therapy that works through movement, not just conversation.
What to expect: Sessions can happen individually or in groups, and typically begin with a warm-up before moving into more structured or exploratory movement work, followed by time to reflect verbally on what came up. No dance skill or fitness level is required or expected. A therapist might guide you through noticing tension, mirroring movement with them, or simply moving in whatever way feels true to a particular feeling.
Good fit for: You process emotion partly or mostly through your body, You're comfortable with movement, even without any dance background, You want a therapeutic approach that isn't primarily verbal
Explore for: Feeling disconnected from your body, or noticing emotion mostly as physical tension, Wanting a non-verbal or partially non-verbal way to process experience, Interest in the connection between movement, posture, and emotional state, A history that feels hard to access or describe through talking alone
Not the right fit if: Physical movement in a therapeutic setting feels too exposing right now, You strongly prefer talk-only therapy
How to choose a practitioner: Confirm they hold the R-DMT or BC-DMT credential through the American Dance Therapy Association Ask what a typical session looks like and how much verbal reflection is included Clarify whether sessions are individual, group, or both
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