What is Dance Movement Therapy (DMT)?
DMT is defined by the European Association Dance Movement Therapy (EADMT) as ‘the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and social integration of the individual.
This article investigates power dynamics in dance movement therapy (DMT), potential blind spots layered into the discourse about power in the profession, and underexplored aspects of the manifestation of power in the therapeutic setting. The research highlights a tendency in the field of DMT towards oppositional thinking and suggests the necessity to hold space for a non-binary approach to the matter. The findings of this study suggests that if dance movement therapists work to deepen their awareness of the implications of their own socio-cultural backgrounds and theoretical frameworks on their embodied approaches to the therapeutic and human relationship with their patients, they will be better able to practise embodied ethical decision-making in an ever more globalised world.
The aims of this research is to highlights blind spots into the discourse about power in the profession and underexplored aspects about the manifestation of power in session.
How the professional field view, reflect and work with power?
When, where and how power manifests in dance movement therapy?
This article analyses DMtherapists’ demographic and their cultural backgrounds relevance in the discourse about power and empowerment in therapy. It underscore a tendency to oppositional thinking in every aspects it touches on, and suggests the necessity to hold space for a non-binary approach to an embodied ethical practice of the profession.
DMT is defined by the European Association Dance Movement Therapy (EADMT) as ‘the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and social integration of the individual.