A comparative analysis of body psychotherapy and dance movement psychotherapy from a European perspective

Abstract

The role of embodiment within contemporary psychotherapy practice and its discussion are gathering momentum, and are part of a paradigm shift in psychotherapy in which theory and practice are being reformulated. Body psychotherapy (BP) and dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) are playing a leading role in these deliberations. Although these two professions have separate professional bodies, distinct theoretical grounding and clinical methodology, they both place enormous value on the central role of the body and its movement as indicators of relational problems, and as agents of therapeutic change. There are few authors comparing and contrasting BP and DMP although they have much in common as they are both embodied, enactive psychotherapies. However, neither their overlaps in theory, methodology and some of their clinical practice nor their distinct character has been sufficiently delineated. This article elucidates some similarities and differences in fundamental assumptions, compares and contrasts definitions and terms and considers common and contrasting theoretical perspectives, techniques and methods. It is expected that this will contribute to the ongoing discussion of the articulation of core characteristics in both professions and will facilitate a better understanding and collaboration between them.

Keywords:

• Body psychotherapy
• dance movement psychotherapy
• comparative analysis
• embodiment

Notes

1. The term non-conscious is used in neuroscience and psychology to denote processes experienced and observed in physical actions and feelings. These processes do not involve spoken language and symbolic thinking (Rustin, 2013) and are developed in early infancy pre-verbally (but not exclusively). ‘Implicit knowing is nonconscious’ (Stern, 2004, p. 116). Implicit/procedural knowing is, however, potentially knowable and may become conscious through bringing attention to the feelings and physical movements (Stern, 2004; Beebe & Lachmann, 2014). This cluster of psychotherapy authors uses the term non-conscious to differentiate it from Freud's unconscious and unconscious repressed material. Heller (2012) also emphasises that a ‘nonconscious event … influences the periphery of our inner atmosphere, but not as something that can be grasped in an explicit way through introspection’ (Heller, 2012, p. 354).