Differences Between Dance And Movement Based Treatment

By Joshua Reed


While traditional therapists still provide clients with services out of an office with a couch, others now use more alternative therapies. These can include everything from hypnosis and psychoanalysis to movement based treatment. While psychoanalysis and hypnosis often focus on behavioral and emotional issues, dance oriented therapies often treat body, mind and soul.

Therapists working in dance therapy often use a four stage approach when providing treatment. These stages include, preparation, illumination, evaluation and incubation. First the therapist evaluates the mover, creates a treatment plan, illuminates the issues then institutes the plan for a specific incubation period.

While non-alcohol, smoke free, dance jams can be fun and at times, enlightening, these are community events. Whereas, dance and movement oriented therapies are often provided at a clinic. At times, this form of treatment might also provided as part of an overall regimen which includes other aspects of physical therapy. Whether one attends sessions at a local hospital or the office of a local physical therapist, it is essential to follow all plans and guidelines to assure success in sessions and overall healing.

Originally developed thousands of years ago, dance and movement therapies have had a major impact on issues related to birth, death, happiness, sickness and health. In 1930, a new philosophy was born which helped establish these therapies in the United States, Europe and around the world. Then, once it became clear the effects had been proven, several colleges and universities began offering a focus on this area of psychotherapy.

Before that time, dance had only been viewed as an expressive art form in the United States and Europe. Once movement became an accepted form of healing, several therapists became interested in working in the area. After which, a focus of dance and movement were added to a number of degree programs in the area of psychology.

Dance therapy can be divided into two waves with the first beginning in 1942. During this time, the focus remained primarily on the clinical and medical aspects of dance. As a result, a well known therapist began seeing clients on a regular basis at a local hospital. While most often successful, there were also times when a client needed different and unique therapies beyond the standard four stage approach.

After students began to report seeing positive changes to overall health and happiness, doctors began sending clients to receive treatment. After several success stories from these individuals and others, these alternative therapeutic forms became more accepted as valid forms of treatment for emotional and physical aspects of clients.

The next or second wave brought a new ideology to dance therapy in the 1970s and 1980s. The new ideology sparked a great deal of attention from therapists at the time. A time when therapists began to explore and experiment with different applications associated with dance and movement. It was these applications that evolved into forms and modalities which therapists still use after having seen great success.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment