Dance Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment for Eating Disorders
For millions of people recovering or struggling with eating disorders, one type of alternative therapy can be stated simply, and without a prescription – just dance.
Dance and other types of creative movement may be another valuable tool on the journey to recovery for millions of people with eating disorders. Officially known as dance/movement therapy, or DMT, the philosophy for dance as a healing resource for eating disorders is based in the mind-body connection, and may help address the challenging and complex emotional element of eating disorders.
At the heart of the concept is the belief that changes in a person’s physical movements can impact their health at the emotional level, intellectually, and also improve body image. The American Dance Therapy Association has set forth a list of standards for becoming a professional dance therapist, and actively practicing dance therapists must also have at least a college education at the master’s level.
Surprising to some, the American Dance Therapy Association was actually formed in 1966 as a way to bridge knowledge globally about the powerful impact of dance on treatment plans. Therapists can lead individuals through dance therapy sessions, or lead in a group setting. Today, research, movement analysis and study in fields like psychopathology are part of the training for dance therapy.
For people with eating disorders, a disconnection to the body and negative self-image can be serious hindrances to recovery – and dance therapists believe that connecting a person to their body through positive movement can close this sense of disconnection. DMT draws not only from dance methods, but also from the study of movement and other science-based theories.
Dance therapy is also helpful for recovery from eating disorders because the person who typically “eats away” their feelings or emotions – good or bad – can put these feelings into dance expression, even when they are unable to talk about them verbally. Dance therapists also believe that negative emotions that are held for long periods of time can be manifested in different areas of the body, but released through movement.
The sense of mindfulness created by dance therapy also leads to a strong, healthy awareness of the body and its dimensions, setting the stage for healthy attitudes and a state of trust with the body rather than seeing the body as the enemy. This is an especially intriguing element of dance therapy for professionals who work with people struggling with eating disorders where the perception of the body has become severely harmful and distorted.
As the person in dance therapy begins to notice and be more mindful of the different levels of sensations throughout the body, therapists hope they can also get in touch with that sense of feeling when they are not in therapy sessions, and thus move closer to recovery from eating disorders.
Dance is not new as a means for communication and expression, but its application to eating disorders and dysfunctional eating may continue to emerge as a strong healing force because it allows participants to experience their bodies in positive ways and become less detached from their physical selves. The practice is also being applied to help bring healing from domestic or sexual abuse, in battling substance abuse and mental illness including depression.
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