How body psychotherapy influenced me to become a dance movement psychotherapist

Abstract

This article explores the influence of how body psychotherapy influenced the author’s decision to become a dance movement psychotherapist. It highlights how embodied practices from body work influenced by Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen have impacted on the author’s body, dance and choreography. The influence of dance is explored on the development of body psychotherapy and Gestalt Therapy. Embodied dialogic relationships are reflected on in the context of these therapeutic approaches with neuroscience providing a framework for understanding them. Similarities and divergences between dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) and body psychotherapy are identified and considered from personal, clinical and training perspectives. The question of how body psychotherapy can be used in DMP training is explored. An attempt is made to consider how each modality can provide a positive input on the other’s training and suggestions for future crossover are proposed.