| Description |
Psychological trauma can potentially cause dysfunction in the brain, nervous system, and therefore, the rest of the body. Exposure to traumatic events, especially within childhood developmental years, can result in negative effects in brain development as well as symptoms of dissociation often seen in personality disorders and posttraumatic stress disorders. The effects of trauma on the psyche, and the context of traumatic experiences, also can have complex implications regarding an individual's ability to create and maintain healthy relationships in adulthood. This document argues Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) as an effective therapeutic methodology in treating the impacts of individual psychological trauma. DMT recognizes the body as an instrument that provides form to unconscious mental processes, contributing to psychological healing. It has also been suggested that DMT potentially improves right brain function in adults who display trauma-related dissociative symptoms. Trauma psychology, neuroscience, and DMT literature will be reviewed to create a theoretical foundation for DMT and its effectiveness in treating psychological trauma. Several DMT interventions will be examined as applications that may support bottom-up integration and resolution of individual psychological trauma. Limitations and suggestions for future research within DMT modalities will also be discussed. |
