Dance Therapy & Depression

Dance therapy has been used to treat mental and physical disabilities and illnesses in the United States since the 1940s. It is recognized by many major organizations as a legitimate form of treatment despite the scarcity of scientific studies that explore its effects. At the very least, it is known that dance/movement therapy will "provide exercise, improve mobility and muscle coordination...reduce muscle tension...improve self-awareness, self-confidence, and interpersonal interaction, and [act as] an outlet for communicating feelings," according to the American Cancer Society.

History

• Dance therapy, as it is currently defined, began in the U.K. and spread to the United States in the 1940s. Dancer and choreographer Marian Chace began a dance school in Washington, DC, where she observed the physical and emotional improvements her students acquired from their dance education. Later she was asked to teach at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in DC. Fran J. Levy, author of "Dance/Movement Therapy: A Healing Art," notes that "the use of...dance...as a cathartic and therapeutic tool is perhaps as old as dance itself. In many primitive societies, dance was as essential as eating and sleeping."

Basics

• Dance therapy is founded on the idea that the mind and body are inseparable. At its most basic level, dance is a form of exercise, providing mobility, flexibility and strength. Exercise increases neurotransmitters in the brain called endorphins, which encourage happiness and contentedness, curing symptoms of depressive patients. Total body movements enhance the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal and muscular systems, according to the American Cancer Society. Furthermore, the ACS notes that dance therapy helps patients "develop a nonverbal language that offers information about what is going on in their bodies," improving their communication with themselves and others, decreasing isolation and providing a sense of hope for the future.

Uses

• A qualified dance therapist will observe a patient's natural movement and decide upon an appropriate program for their particular needs. Therapy sessions may occur individually or in groups. The American Dance Therapy Association holds classes at nursing homes, daycare centers, hospitals and and educational settings, among others. Dance therapy has reportedly assisted people with learning disabilities, eating disorders and autism, as written in Levy's book "Dance/Movement Therapy: A Healing Art." Dance therapy is said to help a patient develop organizational skills, help improve body image issues and expand cognitive abilities. Because dance therapy operates on the belief that the mind and body are linked, it seeks to heal emotional and physical illness simultaneously. Depressive patients are encouraged to find freedom from debilitating emotions in their movements.

Considerations

• The American Cancer Society notes that "few scientific studies have been done to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on health, prevention, and recovery from illness." Dance therapy should be pursued under the supervision of a primary care physician and should be part of a holistic health and wellness plan, regardless of a person's diagnosis.

Recognition

• Dance therapy is now practiced all over the world. This expressive therapy is recognized by the Health Care Financing Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration on Aging and the Office of Alternative Medicine of the National Institute of Health. All dance therapists working for the ADTA must have a master's degree and a minimum of 700 supervised hours of clinical training.