Dance/movement therapy (DMT) serves as a powerful body-based treatment intervention for individuals with eating disorders to explore and reconnect with their bodies. Detaching from one’s feelings and focusing on negative body thoughts is a common characteristic of eating disorders. DMT provides an opportunity for individuals with eating disorders to become more aware of and reconnect with their body’s sensations and learn how to listen to their body’s needs.

By: Aliesha Bryan

The Mind/Body Disconnect

Beyond the words of the language that we first learn to speak at home with family, there is another language that is even more inherent to our being — the language of the body. Our bodies are constantly sending out messages, to us and to those around us, whether we are aware of it or not. Individuals struggling with an eating disorder tend to have a damaged relationship with their bodies, sometimes viewing their bodies as strangers or even enemies. People with eating disorders tend to live in their heads, both estranged from their bodies and yet hyper-focused on those same bodies. It is not unusual for individuals with eating disorders to bury or numb their feelings, or to become so anxious that they have difficulty tolerating being in the body consciously. Despite the difficulties, however, it is possible for someone with an eating disorder to build a healthier relationship with their body, and dance/movement therapy can help.

What is Dance/Movement Therapy?

Dance/movement therapy, commonly referred to DMT, is a psychotherapeutic method that strengthens a client’s awareness of the communication that takes place between the body and the mind. Contrary to popular belief, DMT comes with no obligation to learn choreography or a particular style of dance. Nor is DMT a form of exercise. While dance/movement therapists do not avoid verbal communication, they do emphasize non-verbal communication, assisting clients in expanding their capacity to experience, tolerate, and eventually express their feelings using their own body language. DMT focuses on the why, when, where, and how we move, and the meaning behind it. Movement reveals important information to both the dance/movement therapist and the client. Dance/movement therapists help clients to discover the connection between their body language and their lives, ushering emotions out from the depths of the unconscious and into the realm of conscious communication.

How Can Dance/Movement Therapy Help a Person with an Eating Disorder?

The ability to experience, express, and understand feelings and sensations (whether those are hunger cues, sadness, or anger) is an essential aspect of eating disorder recovery. When dance/movement therapy is integrated within a treatment plan, clients can begin to feel safe enough to start that process and move toward long-lasting change. Dance/movement therapists have a variety of tools in their belt that allow them to therapeutically assist individuals with eating disorders, including showing empathy, giving honest feedback, and their ability to draw cognitive insights from non-verbal experiences. If someone with an eating disorder is unable to face emotional issues, a dance/movement therapist can help that person re-establish the connection with their felt sense. Starting slowly, working gradually, and focusing on the client’s experience, dance/movement therapists enable individuals with eating disorders — where so much of the struggle is around control — to experience true freedom.

For more information about Dance/Movement Therapy and Eating Disorders, watch this talk by Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, National Certified Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Susan Kleinman here.

At BALANCE, we utilize a variety of experiential group therapies in our treatment approach including art therapy, movement, and drama therapy. Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about Dance/Movement Therapy. Sign up for a free phone consultation below!

This post was written by BALANCE intern, Aliesha Bryan.

Aliesha is a second-year graduate student at Sarah Lawrence College pursuing her Master of Science in Dance/Movement Therapy. She completed her undergraduate education at Barnard College, majoring in French and Francophone Studies. She previously worked as a translator for a variety of organizations within the UN system, including UNESCO, United Nations Headquarters, and the Pan-American Health Organization. Aliesha is also a professional Flamenco dancer who has had the opportunity to perform live at venues and festivals here in the United States and internationally. As a Dance/Movement Therapist in training, Aliesha believes that the body is a repository of extraordinarily valuable information — often symbolic and potentially difficult to express in everyday language — but nonetheless vital to healing. She is passionate about eating disorder recovery and is excited to be a part of the BALANCE team.