move the body to move the mind
Movement Therapy is a general term referring to a broad range of Eastern and Western movement approaches used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Movement is an essential part of many healing traditions and practices throughout the world. Somatics is a field within movement studies and bodywork which incorporates movement experiences for internal physical perception. In movement therapy it refers to approaches based on the soma, i.e. the body according to how it is perceived from within. In dance, somatics refers to techniques based on the dancer's internal sensations and observations associated with movement.
The cultivation of mindfulness in movement therapies is founded on artistic-kinesthetic action, or artistry of the body in movement. The body holds the hidden stories of life experiences and with the aid of movement experientials and specific movement training, the individual can draw these experiences to the surface, giving them shape and form, and change life stories to produce different endings, resulting in therapeutic benefits.
Movement training that is grounded in mindfulness positively impacts psychological and physiological physical health, improves self regulation, and cultivates the capacity for subjective well-being and self-awareness through attentiveness. Integral to mindful practices that are movement-based is the development of kinesthetic awareness, proprioception and interoception.
Active, autonomous and intentional engagement in motion is core to the sense of feeling in control over actions and their consequences, which in turn is fundamental to the development of a sense of identity and purpose, providing opportunities for self-empowerment and self-transformation.
dance-movement therapy
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DMT is regarded as one of the art therapies, and is a type of embodied psychotherapy, and we use movement and dance as a way of self-expression and to find ways of exploring and addressing various problems or difficulties relating to health, wellbeing and happiness. It offers a holistic approach to treatment of physical, psychological, cognitive, and social issues that does not rely on talking about problems as the only way of finding solutions. Although we may use different approaches, in DMT we always adopt a specific direction based on the needs of the individual client or group.
The sessions themselves incorporate dance and movement and we focus on a range of different practices including breath, posture, gesture, improvised movement, rhythmical movement and mirroring. For this, dance skills are not required at all, because it is not about learning dance steps or routines, it is about exploring movement for authentic expression.
In DMT, we use an embodied approach, which cultivates the connection to the physical self, because it supports wholeness, or integration of body and mind.
We also use creativity because the creative process provides clients with opportunities to find new solutions to problems.
Imagery, symbolism and metaphor are also important tools in DMT because they are used to access unconscious or difficult feelings such as anger, shame or fear, and these tools allow a client to work through problematic issues indirectly.
Non-verbal communication is an essential basis of DMT, which offers a way for people to express feelings, because it is often easier to reach and communicate emotions to other people in a non-verbal way.
Verbal expression is invited in combination with, and to support movement expression, and to further integrate emergent experiences from movement explorations.
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Dance-Movement Therapy has been recognised as a method that increases confidence, social and communication skills as well as improves self-esteem and overall attentiveness in individuals of all ages.
Some examples of what Dance Movement Therapy can assist with:
- Coping with stress and challenges.
- Managing mental health and wellbeing.
- Identity, self-discovery and confidence building.
- Sensory awareness and perceptual experience.
- Regaining safety in the body after trauma.
- Living with chronic illness or disability.
- Developmental processes.
- Processing loss and grief.
- Recovering from addiction.
- Building awareness through the body in motion.
We start by focussing on the physical domain, allowing movement and stories to unfold.
Domains for exploration include:
- Physical domain, towards a stable, mobile, functional and expressive body.
- Cultural domain, towards a creative, aesthetic, expressive self.
- Emotional domain, towards healthy, regulated emotions.
- Cognitive domain, towards an active, enquiring mind.
- Social domain, towards satisfying reciprocal relationships.
- Integration domain, towards wholeness, vitality and aliveness.
To learn more about Dance-Movement Therapy visit:
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DMT invites people from all walks of life across generations, from school age children through to older people. Programmes for groups can be tailored to specific needs, conditions and populations.
Dance skills are not required, because it is not about learning dance steps or routines, it is about exploring movement for authentic expression. No movement experience necessary, just a curiosity to move and explore.
Programming is client/group centred, which means that sessions are directed according to developing emergent themes and needs of each client/group.
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Sessions are structured but allow for exploration of themes that develop during the session. There is a clear beginning and ending so that participants know what to expect each session, and there are rest opportunities.
- Sessions start with a welcome and verbal check in.
- The facilitator will invite the participants to join in a physical warmup.
- With the guidance of the facilitator, participants may move along with the facilitator (and others in a group session). Participants may explore various movements, sometimes using props such as ribbons and fabrics.
- The movement will come to a close, working towards stillness using breathwork.
- Participants may then be asked to reflect on their experience creatively, by writing or drawing. Participants will also be invited to verbally share their experience.
- We will share a closing movement and say farewell.
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Helen Ilich - Somatics & Dance-Movement Therapist GradDip SDMT, Movement Coach and life-long mover.
Her credentials and experience include Dance-Movement Therapy amongst a spectrum of exciting movement disciplines. Helen brings playfulness and diverse perspectives into the therapeutic movement space that she holds for others.
Peak body registrations include:
ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association).
C.A.T.S. Malta (Creative Arts Therapies Society)
Helen is a dual Australian/EU citizen.
Bodyfulness talk by Christine Caldwell
Bodyfulness…
“Bodyfulness is about working toward our potential as a whole human animal that breathes as well as thinks, moves as well as sits still, takes action as well as considers, and exists not just because it thinks but because it dances, stretches, bounces, gazes, focuses, and attunes to others”
Christine Caldwell (PhD), Bodyfulness, 2018
an invitation to move
Helen Ilich is a Somatics & Dance-Movement Therapist and Multi-disciplinary Movement Coach.