In and Through the Body: The Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy on the Mental Health of LGBTQIA+ Adults; A Literature Review

The benefits of dance/movement therapy on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ adults is a topic that is widely underexplored. It is one that is of utmost importance due to the body-based nature of LGBTQIA+ experiences. This literature review will further elaborate on the complexities of LGBTQIA+ identities and the incredible impacts that dance/movement therapy has on a body-level. Throughout the research, it was discovered and emphasized that movement as a healing practice can bring a sense of comfort and allow for expression for those a part of this marginalized community. Diving deep into the understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community and how it can be treated through the application of movement is vital in creating a space of connection, through intrapersonal and interpersonal perspectives. Allowing for communities to further connect and heal in the bodies they inhabit can change the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Dance/movement therapy positively impacts the treatment of oppression and trauma that can be encountered in their daily lives, through societal norms and lack of understanding. Dance/movement therapy can give LGBTQIA+ individuals the support they need and deserve and the ability to express themselves in ways that they may not have previously thought possible