Dancing with trauma: A psychosomatic exploration of dance movement therapy and trauma release

Psychological trauma causes distress to the mind and body. The human body is designed to move, and thus, the use of movement can be beneficial in many forms of therapy. This thesis utilizes a hermeneutic and heuristic methodology to investigate how dance movement therapy can be an effective modality for treating the impact of trauma. The literature review presents research on the effect of trauma on the body and the methods of dance movement therapy that may apply in treatment. Current research is discussed in examining the mind–body connection related to trauma. From a depth psychological perspective, the use of movement is explored as a therapeutic way of accessing and releasing repressed or unconscious emotions and memories associated with trauma. The author’s personal experience contributes to the findings of the research, which present clear evidence of the benefits that dance movement provides in the psychotherapeutic treatment of trauma