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  • By Joshua Reed


    While traditional therapists still provide clients with services out of an office with a couch, others now use more alternative therapies. These can include everything from hypnosis and psychoanalysis to movement based treatment. While psychoanalysis and hypnosis often focus on behavioral and emotional issues, dance oriented therapies often treat body, mind and soul.

    Therapists working in dance therapy often use a four stage approach when providing treatment. These stages include, preparation, illumination, evaluation and incubation. First the therapist evaluates the mover, creates a treatment plan, illuminates the issues then institutes the plan for a specific incubation period.

    These therapies are often provided in a clinical or medical setting. While community dances such as the many ongoing non-alcohol, smoke-free, barefoot dance jams that occur on an regular basis are often hosted in churches, community centers or schools. In either case, dance is one activity which has the ability to effect the overall health and well being of the dancer. In some cases related to physical injuries, individuals may be sent to a physical therapist who can also integrate movement based therapies into an overall treatment plan.

    Originally developed thousands of years ago, dance and movement therapies have had a major impact on issues related to birth, death, happiness, sickness and health. In 1930, a new philosophy was born which helped establish these therapies in the United States, Europe and around the world. Then, once it became clear the effects had been proven, several colleges and universities began offering a focus on this area of psychotherapy.

    Before being established as a valid form of psychotherapy, dance had always been seen primarily as an expressive form of art. Then, after more of these therapies were established in the 1950s, a number of professionals begin working in the field now known as dance therapy. While there are now programs focused on this type therapy, originally these therapies were provided by general psychologists and psychotherapists around the world.

    Throughout history, dance can be divided into two waves. The first wave involved the use of dance in the medical community beginning in 1942. After which, a choreographer, dancer and therapist began to notice the effects dance had on her students. As a result, the field of dance and movement based therapy was created.

    Once students began reporting that movement aided in overall happiness, health and well being, several doctors began sending clients to these new therapists. A local therapist then began offering a program at a hospital in Washington, D. C. It was at this location that several trials related to this therapeutic form took place. During these trials, it became clear that healing could take place as a result of these type therapies.

    A new ideology related to dance therapy was formed in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, a number of therapists began exploring and experimenting with this new aspect of treatment. Several therapists started developing new and exciting applications in the process. After which, these application based therapies were matched with the healing needs of clients.




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