Dance Movement Therapy for Body-Based Trauma Healing 

A Gentle Path to Reconnect with Your Body and Emotions 

When trauma occurs, it doesn’t just live in our thoughts—it stays in our bodies. We may tense up, feel disconnected, or find it hard to trust our physical sensations. For many trauma survivors, traditional talk therapy alone may not be enough. That’s where Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) comes in—a powerful, body-based approach that supports healing through movement, expression, and reconnection. 

DMT helps individuals release stored trauma, improve emotional regulation, and restore a sense of safety within the body. It’s not about dance skills—it’s about movement as medicine. 

What Is Dance Movement Therapy? 

Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a form of expressive therapy that uses body movement to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It is based on the idea that the mind and body are deeply connected, and that movement can help access emotions that words cannot. 

In a DMT session, clients are guided by a certified therapist to explore movement in ways that feel safe and expressive. The focus is on feeling and sensing, not performing. Whether it’s swaying, walking, or simply breathing in rhythm, each movement becomes a pathway to healing. 

Trauma Lives in the Body 

Trauma isn’t just remembered—it’s felt. According to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, traumatic experiences often leave a lasting imprint on the nervous system, showing up as: 

– Muscle tension 

– Dissociation or numbness 

– Hypervigilance 

– Chronic pain or illness 

– Difficulty feeling emotions 

These symptoms are signs that the body is still in a protective or survival state. Dance Movement Therapy gently helps the body process these stored patterns and return to a place of safety and regulation. 

How DMT Supports Trauma Healing 

Dance Movement Therapy combines movement, mindfulness, and emotional expression. Here’s how it can support body-based trauma recovery: 

1. Reconnects You with Your Body 

After trauma, many people feel disconnected from their physical selves. DMT provides a safe space to rebuild trust with the body. Movements are self-led, gentle, and tuned into your personal boundaries. 

Clients are encouraged to notice sensations, practice grounding, and explore what feels comforting. Over time, this can lead to a renewed sense of embodiment and inner strength. 

2. Supports Emotional Expression Without Words 

Trauma often silences us. Some feelings may be too overwhelming—or not yet understood enough—to talk about. Through movement, people can express complex emotions like grief, anger, or fear without needing to explain them. 

A 2019 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that participants in trauma-informed DMT showed improved emotional regulation and reduced PTSD symptoms over a 10-week program (Ko, 2019). 

3. Regulates the Nervous System 

DMT supports self-regulation through breath, rhythm, and repeated movement patterns. This helps calm the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the “fight or flight” response) and activate the parasympathetic system (the “rest and digest” state). 

Just like music or rocking can soothe a baby, rhythmic movement can soothe trauma-affected adults—helping them feel safe inside their own skin. 

4. Builds Relational and Social Safety

Many DMT sessions happen in group settings, where participants learn to move in relation to others. This kind of safe, co-regulated connection  is deeply healing for people with attachment wounds or social anxiety. 

Whether in pairs or as a group, dancing with others helps rebuild trust, attunement, and boundaries—skills often affected by trauma. 

What Happens in a DMT Session? 

Each session is different, depending on your therapist and goals. A typical structure may include: 

1. Grounding and Warm-Up 

   Breathing, gentle stretching, and body scans to settle in. 

2. Exploratory Movement 

   Guided movement or free dance that reflects your emotional state. 

3. Witnessing or Group Sharing 

   In some sessions, participants may witness each other’s movement or reflect on their experience. 

4. Cool Down and Integration 

   Slower movements to calm the body, followed by verbal processing if needed. 

You don’t need to be a dancer. You only need ,, 

Who Can Benefit from DMT? 

Dance Movement Therapy can help people who are: 

– Healing from childhood trauma or abuse 

– Recovering from PTSD or complex trauma 

– Dealing with anxiety or dissociation 

– Managing grief, depression, or chronic stress 

– Seeking body-based approaches alongside talk therapy 

It is also beneficial for those who struggle to express emotions verbally or feel disconnected from their physical presence. 

Evidence Supporting DMT 

– A 2016 review published in Arts in Psychotherapy found that DMT significantly reduced trauma symptoms, improved body image, and increased psychological well-being across multiple studies (Koch et al., 2016). 

– Another study in International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being showed that participants felt more empowered and emotionally resilient after participating in DMT programs (Meekums et al., 2015). 

Final Thoughts 

Healing from trauma isn’t just about thinking differently—it’s about feeling differently. Dance Movement Therapy invites you to reclaim your body, express your truth, and move through what’s been stuck or silenced. 

It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always come in words. Sometimes, it comes in the rhythm of your breath, the sway of your hips, or the quiet courage to move again—just as you are. 

Because your body remembers. And with the right support, it can remember how to feel safe again, too 

References 

– Ko, S.-J. (2019). The effects of dance movement therapy on psychological health: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1806. 

– Koch, S. C., Kunz, T., Lykou, S., & Cruz, R. (2016). Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(1), 46–64. 

– Meekums, B., Karkou, V., & Nelson, E. A. (2015). Dance movement therapy for depression. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 10(1), 271–286. 

– van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.