What is Movement Therapy?

By /

While therapy and medications are effective in treating symptoms and managing various conditions, alternative and holistic therapies can also provide relief. Holistic therapies can include activities like yoga, hiking, and acupuncture, and the goal is to help heal the body, mind, and spirit heal and unify. Evidence based approaches may include things like cognitive and dialectic behavioral therapy, medication and individual counseling.  A merger of holistic and evidence-based treatments can be the key to your improved health. But, how can you find a movement therapy program Utah residents use to treat psychical and mental health conditions? Both holistic addiction therapies and evidence-based treatments can help treat a wide range of mental health and medical conditions.

What is Movement Therapy? 

So, what is movement therapy? This therapeutic modality can include activities like dancing or aerobics, or any type of activity that allows you to express your emotions through movement. Some examples include:

  • Dance therapy

  • Stretching activities

  • Yoga

  • Movement metaphors

  • Mirroring

Movement and dance therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to improve your ability to communicate and express your emotions. These therapies are oftentimes referred to as expressive therapy. Activities like movement metaphors, which works by a therapist asking you to express an emotion or thought through body movements, help you find a healthy way to share your feelings. Sessions are led by a licensed movement therapy specialist. During these sessions, your therapist can interpret your mood and thought the process through nonverbal communication. In this manner, movement therapies can assist other trauma-focused therapies to provide an expressive outlet for pain or stress. How you respond to questions can also help your therapist better understand your communication skills, which can be an important tool during treatment.

The Benefits of Movement Therapy

Since movement therapy is a type of psychotherapeutic expressive therapy, it has several significant benefits. Mirroring exercises, where a therapist asks you to repeat a body movement, helps improve your ability to empathize with others. Movement therapy improves your ability to express emotions and is beneficial if you have difficulty verbalizing your thoughts and feelings. Engaging in movement therapy also helps you respond to questions truthfully. Having to express emotions or thoughts through movements results in more natural responses than talking based sessions. It also helps you learn to understand and evaluate your feelings. The simplicity of the treatment allows you to give more reactionary answers to your therapist. Movement therapy is especially beneficial if you are battling an eating disorder or other mental health disorder because, many times, it can be difficult to share or express yourself with words. Using movement to express yourself can allow you to gain better insight, learn more about empathy and build a stronger relationship with your therapist. It can also improve your mood and sleep.

Finding a Holistic Therapy Program

After digesting these answers, the next step is finding a treatment provider. Movement therapy, along with other targeted addiction therapies offered, can help you better understand and overcome your mental health symptoms. Acqua Recovery has a wide range of services and programs, including movement therapy, that can help you or a loved one find recovery. To learn more about what your treatment options are, call us today at 866.830.4628.

What is Movement Therapy?

BACK TO MAIN BLOG

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

By: Acqua Recovery

Posted Date: Jan 26, 2023

Updated Date: Jul 12, 2024

While therapy and medications are effective in treating symptoms and managing various conditions, alternative and holistic therapies can also provide relief. Holistic therapies can include activities like yoga, hiking, and acupuncture, and the goal is to help heal the body, mind, and spirit heal and unify. Evidence based approaches may include things like cognitive and dialectic behavioral therapy, medication and individual counseling.  A merger of holistic and evidence-based treatments can be the key to your improved health. But, how can you find a movement therapy program Utah residents use to treat psychical and mental health conditions? Both holistic addiction therapies and evidence-based treatments can help treat a wide range of mental health and medical conditions.

What is Movement Therapy? 

So, what is movement therapy? This therapeutic modality can include activities like dancing or aerobics, or any type of activity that allows you to express your emotions through movement. Some examples include:

  • Dance therapy

  • Stretching activities

  • Yoga

  • Movement metaphors

  • Mirroring

Movement and dance therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to improve your ability to communicate and express your emotions. These therapies are oftentimes referred to as expressive therapy. Activities like movement metaphors, which works by a therapist asking you to express an emotion or thought through body movements, help you find a healthy way to share your feelings. Sessions are led by a licensed movement therapy specialist. During these sessions, your therapist can interpret your mood and thought the process through nonverbal communication. In this manner, movement therapies can assist other trauma-focused therapies to provide an expressive outlet for pain or stress. How you respond to questions can also help your therapist better understand your communication skills, which can be an important tool during treatment.

The Benefits of Movement Therapy

Since movement therapy is a type of psychotherapeutic expressive therapy, it has several significant benefits. Mirroring exercises, where a therapist asks you to repeat a body movement, helps improve your ability to empathize with others. Movement therapy improves your ability to express emotions and is beneficial if you have difficulty verbalizing your thoughts and feelings. Engaging in movement therapy also helps you respond to questions truthfully. Having to express emotions or thoughts through movements results in more natural responses than talking based sessions. It also helps you learn to understand and evaluate your feelings. The simplicity of the treatment allows you to give more reactionary answers to your therapist. Movement therapy is especially beneficial if you are battling an eating disorder or other mental health disorder because, many times, it can be difficult to share or express yourself with words. Using movement to express yourself can allow you to gain better insight, learn more about empathy and build a stronger relationship with your therapist. It can also improve your mood and sleep.

Finding a Holistic Therapy Program

After digesting these answers, the next step is finding a treatment provider. Movement therapy, along with other targeted addiction therapies offered, can help you better understand and overcome your mental health symptoms. Acqua Recovery has a wide range of services and programs, including movement therapy, that can help you or a loved one find recovery. To learn more about what your treatment options are, call us today at 866.830.4628.

Scroll to Top
Skip to content