Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) places value on the central role of the body and resonates with an indigenous connection to dance for healing. DMT is the intentional and systematic use of movement to achieve psychotherapeutic goals, including emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration, symptom relief, and personal growth. It is based on the principle that body and mind are interrelated, and that changes in movement can facilitate changes in emotional experience, thought patterns, and relational behaviour.

DMT engages movement as a form of non-verbal communication, using posture, gesture, rhythm and spatial awareness to express and explore experiences that may not be accessible through words. The therapist employs embodied attunement to support a relational process that fosters awareness, expression, and integration. The focus on body and body memory in DMT relates directly to embodiment, which understands the body and movement as an integral part of knowledge and memory. Body memories and patterns of movement that define peoples’ lives are shaped by their relationships to self, others and their environment.

DMT is practiced with individuals and groups. In group settings, shared movement processes enhance awareness of interpersonal dynamics and provide opportunities to explore and modify relational patterns. Symbolic and metaphorical expression may emerge through movement, offering access to unconscious material and shared group processes.