How Dance Movement Therapy Goes Beyond Words to Heal

Dance doesn’t have to be about performance. It doesn’t have to be choreographed. And it definitely doesn’t have to look perfect.

In dance movement therapy, dance doesn’t even have to look like dance, as long as someone’s moving their body in a way that feels right to them, in a way that allows them to explore what they’re feeling inside. That’s what matters.

Whether you’re curious about what goes on in a dance movement therapy session or wondering how it works, read on to learn more about this evidence-based experiential therapy.

What is dance movement therapy?

As the name suggests, dance movement therapy (formally written as dance/movement therapy and sometimes abbreviated as DMT) is a form of therapy that utilizes dance and movement as a method of expression and exploration.

The American Dance Therapy Association defines it as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being.”

But what does that mean in practice? “The way I think of it is, we’re using the body as the medium for healing in every possible way,” says Maria Gismondi, a Charlie Health Contemplative Practitioner and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist.

The mind-body connection is undeniable, especially when it comes to mental health struggles. So it only makes sense that we tap into the body as we heal, too. Instead of only talking through what’s going on, clients are invited to notice, express, and shift what they feel in their bodies through movement and dance.

“We communicate not only through words, but also through our posture, gestures, breath, facial expressions, and movement. Dance movement therapy recognizes these forms of nonverbal communication as meaningful parts of the therapeutic process,” says Krystal Batista, a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist at Charlie Health.

She adds, “When combined with reflection and conversation, movement can help people build self-awareness, explore authentic self-expression, and foster deeper connection with themselves and others.”

Who can benefit from dance movement therapy?

Anybody can benefit from dance movement therapy. Gismondi says that over her 25 years in practice, she’s seen this therapy have benefits for virtually any mental health condition.

However, she notes that three of the most common concerns that dance movement therapy can address are anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Many people with depression shut down and don’t engage in regular movement, and dance therapy can combat this, get people moving, and get feel-good hormones released. “Dance is a window back into joy in a lot of ways,” Gismondi says. “I think it’s also the means through which you can reconnect meaningfully with yourself.”

Researchers have also studied the impact of dance movement therapy on adults with depression, finding that DMT does have positive therapeutic benefits for people with depression. Additionally, research on DMT in depressed adolescents found that the therapy can result in quicker symptom improvement.

Clients can also use their body as a healing tool for anxiety. “If you’re upregulated too far, we can use movement that helps to soothe your nervous system,” says Gismondi. Dance and movement are great ways to get rid of pent-up energy you might have related to anxiety. There’s also research showing that DMT can improve anxiety symptoms.

Lastly, DMT is great for trauma survivors. Because trauma is often stored in the body, movement can help people safely process experiences that may feel difficult to access through words alone. Plus, many trauma survivors hold a lot of tension in their body, and DMT allows them a chance to release this tension, Gismondi adds. While more research is needed, current evidence suggests that DMT may help reduce both psychological and physiological trauma symptoms.

What does a typical dance movement therapy session look like?

First, it’s important to know what a dance movement therapy session won’t look like. “It’s not a dance class. I won’t be teaching you steps to mirror back to me,” Gismondi says. “Essentially, it’s getting in touch with your internal landscape and connecting with what’s in there and then working with what emerges primarily through nonverbal movement.” And no — there will be no dance recital at the end.

No dance movement therapy session looks the same, and the approach can vary from therapist to therapist.

However, typically, the session will start with a check-in, engaging verbally, and addressing the theme of the week, Gismondi says. From here, she’ll start to help clients connect to their body and gear up for the main part of the session.

Next, the movement begins. “One intervention I use invites clients to complete ‘I am…’ statements and then embody those words through movement, helping them explore identity, strengths, and authentic self-expression,” Batista says. “Other sessions may focus on themes like co-regulation, where shared movement experiences such as mirroring help clients practice attunement, build connection, and experience co-regulation together through movement.”

Regardless of the specific type of movement, the focus is on exploration of emotions — not performance or looking good. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to move in DMT.

At the end, the therapist and clients will slow down and reflect on their experience. “Clients have the opportunity to share what stood out to them, what they learned, or how they’re leaving the session,” Batista adds.

How movement helps people process emotions or experiences in a way that traditional talk therapy may not

Dance movement therapy is an ideal match for traditional talk therapy. While talk therapy allows people an opportunity to gain insight into their thoughts, patterns, and experiences, dance movement provides an invaluable opportunity to come into the body and process emotions through physical sensation and movement.

It also provides an avenue for expression for those who may struggle to put their feelings into words, feel disconnected from their emotions, or don’t feel ready to fully open up verbally just yet.

“Dance movement therapy doesn’t replace talk therapy — it complements it,” Batista says. “For some clients, starting with movement can make it easier to access, explore, or express experiences that may feel difficult to put into words right away.”

But that’s not to say that dance therapists don’t use words at all. “Big things come up, and big feelings emerge,” Gismondi says. “When these emerge, we want to move through them, but then also to be able to process them in words.” Dance therapists can help with this since they are master’s-level clinicians who have received general training.

How people change through dance movement therapy

Dance movement therapy can make a profound impact on people’s well-being. Clients often become more confident expressing themselves, more connected with peers, and more comfortable showing up, Batista says.

“Ultimately, one of the greatest changes I see is not just in how clients move, but in how they begin to relate to themselves and to one another,” she says. “To me, one of the most powerful aspects of dance movement therapy is creating a space where clients feel safe enough to explore who they are, build meaningful relationships, and integrate what they’re experiencing internally with how they express themselves outwardly.”

Even those who are skeptical and resistant at first can reap the benefits. Gismondi shares a story of a past client who was closed off, uninterested, and didn’t want to participate. “They showed up in this tiny, narrow world, barely on camera, and barely moved their body at all,” she remembers.

But within a few weeks of giving DMT a shot, everything changed. “By the time they left, they were an absolute pillar of our group,” Gismondi says. “They were the person drawing other people into movement, and they would welcome the new folks into the group by saying, ‘Even if you think this is ridiculous, trust me, you have to try it.’”

Now that this client has graduated, they continue to attend Gismondi’s sessions in the Charlie Health Alumni Program — proving that DMT can have a huge impact, even on skeptics or those who are resistant at first.

Dance movement therapy at Charlie Health

Charlie Health is a virtual behavioral health provider delivering high-acuity treatment for kids, teens, and adults facing serious mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Dance movement therapy is one of the many experiential therapies offered to help clients heal beyond traditional talk-therapy-based approaches. Other experiential therapies at Charlie Health include art therapy, music therapy, and poetry therapy.

Our innovative treatment model combines clinical expertise, group connection, and measurement-based care to support holistic long-term healing. With the right support, managing well-being is possible.

If you think you might benefit from Charlie Health’s IOP, fill out this form.

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