The Body Remembers: Dance/Movement Therapy with an Adult Survivor of Torture

Abstract

Torture ruptures boundaries. It is one of the most intense forms of human rights abuse, occurring in the context of relationship, and with the intention to inflict pain on the body. Relationship to one's self, and to others, is often dramatically affected. Integral aspects of the healing process for survivors of torture are to restore relative safety in the body and to rebuild relationship capacity. In this paper, individual dance/movement therapy is introduced as a modality for healing the wounds of torture. The impact of torture on the body, the self, and relationships, and how this can affect treatment using individual dance/movement therapy, is addressed. Dance/movement therapy with an adult survivor is illustrated in a case study. The author concludes that dance/movement therapy, following the experience of torture, can be beneficial in rebuilding an individual's sense of wholeness and self, and in improving interaction skills and relationship capacity.