Dance therapy: description, history, essence of treatment

Dance therapy is a completely unique phenomenon. What is it? This is the direction of psychotherapy, in which movement and dance contribute both to the physical and emotional integration of the individual. This method has a rich history. And in general, it is of some interest. So I would like to pay special attention to this topic.

About the prerequisites

To all people who are a little familiar with folklore, history and art, it is well known that dance from time immemorial has been an integral part of various rituals, communal life and other practices. It's more than just moving to music. The dance carried sacred, communicative, identification, expressive and recreational functions. He helped to freely express himself, contact with partners, emotionally discharge and relieve physical tension. In fact, all these functions are performed today.

The healing properties of dance in the XX century prompted specialists in the field of psychotherapy to use them as a new method of treatment. In addition, at that time, modernism appeared . The dance of this genre has become quite special. After all, it emphasized the individuality of each person and the importance of personal. The first dance therapists were such people as Isadora Duncan, Mary Wigman and Rudolph Laban.

And, of course, when talking about the premises, we can not fail to note the teachings of V. Reich. This expert assured that all unexpressed human experiences and emotions do not disappear anywhere. They accumulate in the muscles. And there are original "blocks". In general, dance-motor therapy, the exercises of which will be noted with attention a little later, appeals to the teachings of Reich. Or rather, to how the specialist explains the work of psychosomatic mechanisms. But its methods as such are not used.

In Russia

In this country, this direction appeared not very long ago - in the 90s. And initially there was not even such a notion as dance therapy. The theory says: in Russia it was originally presented as a method of personal growth and development. But in 1995, the concept has already appeared. And after him - ATTT (Association of Dance-Movement Therapy). It was organized in Moscow. And ATTT works with the support of the American, European and International Associations.

Now TDT is an independent direction in psychotherapy. And the range of its application is very wide. Dance therapy is aimed at combating stress, Parkinson's disease, autism, post-traumatic disorders, etc.

About the principles

Like any other treatment technique, this type of therapy is based on certain provisions and rules. They are followed by doctors working in this direction. The essence of the main principle is that the human body and his psyche are inseparable. And they interact with each other constantly. Also, dance is perceived as a way of communication. And the person dealing with TDT, comes into contact with himself, the partner and the whole world.

Another important principle is the unity of thoughts, feelings and behavior. Because any change in one aspect entails a change in the other two. In this, by the way, the principle of integrity is manifested. Also, the "highlight" is the perception of your body as not an object or an object, but a process. The very realization of this is reflected in the result, while presenting the desired effect. And one more important principle - in the practice of dance therapy specialist refers to the creative resources of man, as an endless source of creative energy and vitality.

Objectives

Dance therapy for children and adults is aimed at achieving the same result. The main goal is to expand the scope of awareness of your body, as well as its capabilities and characteristics. It is important that a person develops confidence in himself and improves his self-esteem. To do this, doctors and are engaged in the development of the patient's body, instill in him love for this cause.

Another goal is to improve social skills and integrate internal experience. It is important that a person during the treatment establishes a special relationship between the movements, thoughts and feelings.

Methods

It is worth noting that there are different groups of dance therapy. The main one is clinical. This is an auxiliary type of therapy, forming an effective in terms of treatment of symbiosis with medications prescribed to patients. Clinical TDT can last a long time - sometimes for several years. But the effectiveness of that requires. By the way, especially it helps patients who have speech impairments and interpersonal communications (that is, in communication). By the way, there was a clinical TDT more than 75 years ago.

Also widely used is TDT in people with psychological problems. And this kind of therapy is much more complicated than previously mentioned. Because it is aimed at solving specific human problems. And there is such a TDT as in the group with other patients, and individually. The basis of the method is usually laid down by analytical psychology.

And there is also dance therapy for those people who do not have any problems, but they want something more from their lives. For example, learn with TDT your hidden self, find a new way of expressing yourself and start interacting with others.

Innovation

As already mentioned in the beginning, TDT has gained popularity not so long ago. Which is not surprising, it's an innovation. During the sessions with patients, the doctor uses skills, skills and knowledge that relate to psychology, creativity, art, physiology and therapy. It is important. After all, almost every disease is psychosomatic. And until the moment when the disease begins to manifest itself at the physical level, it appears in the subconscious. That is, at the level of the psyche.

TDT is special in that in the course of its implementation, much attention is paid not only to thought processes and cognitive methods of rehabilitation, but also to the physical and creative part. That is, in simple terms, both hemispheres are involved. And this is what is needed for a harmonious and holistic person. And, however that may be, the most unexplored aspect of our world today is man. Namely, how his body interacts with the psyche.

Benefit

Dance therapy, whose history is very interesting, is really effective. It is the best way to minimize physical stress and increase the mobility of a person. If you believe the notorious theory of Reich, it turns out that the same muscle "clamp" is eliminated. After all, a person begins to move, express their feelings and emotions during the dance. And the accumulated energy, which was spent on maintaining the muscle "clamping", finds its application.

The value of artistic experiences is very great. In dance, even from the unconscious, they extract needs and inclinations, which the patient could not even guess about. In other words, he simply gets rid of them.

In addition, TDT is a great way for non-verbal interaction. It is for this reason that group classes have recently gained popularity. Man begins to contact not only with the healer, but also with other participants. And this is an additional stress relief and a more relaxed atmosphere. Group sessions significantly improve the emotional and physical state of patients. And if they are also teenagers, then TDT helps them to increase their self-esteem and develop a more positive image of their own body. By contacting other members of the group, young people can awaken in themselves new, previously uncharted feelings.

Movement

So, we considered the methods of dance therapy in as much detail as possible. Now you can touch the attention and exercises. There are no restrictions and generally accepted standards. After all, one of the goals, as mentioned earlier, is to demonstrate freedom and creativity. The most important thing is that the movements performed by the patient are aimed at realizing their own feelings at a given, concrete moment. His task is to express his emotions with a dance. And the therapist, watching him, must understand what the patient is trying to communicate. Psychoanalysis comes into play here. It is the physician's responsibility to determine the patient's behavior as accurately as possible, which will help to understand his problem.

Then the healer, along with the person, begins to expand the limited potential of the movements. So it is possible to liberate the patient, to direct him to overcome complexes and psychological problems. This is the aim of dance therapy.

Exercises are what the patient should concentrate on during the sessions. When a person "drags on", it is important for him to feel what exactly he is feeling at the moment. A doctor, in turn, should help him come to the realization of his physical sensations. At the last stage, the patient usually feels that his soul is one with the body, and communicates it with his dance.

What else is worth knowing?

For TDT there are no barriers. No age limits or restrictions on diagnosis. Now there are centers that work with adults and children who accept anyone who wants to, help them cope with personal problems, anxieties, fears, personal crises, misunderstandings and loss of meaning in life. There is also a matrimonial TDT.

For children, special programs have been developed that can correct the disharmonious development (such as autism, developmental delay, minimal brain dysfunction). For adults, there is a program that helps to cope with obesity overeating, anorexia and bulimia. With the help of TDT, you can even establish a child-parent relationship.

And people who decided to deal with TDT (or they had to do it), assure that there is an effect. The whole theory described is confirmed in practice. And the therapy allows not only to fill forces, but also to know yourself, to feel your light, uniqueness and value for this world, which is confirmed by many reviews.

Training

As it was already possible to understand, the activity of a person who owns such art as dance therapy is very complex and multifaceted. Training of specialists of this profile also takes place in several stages. The program itself was created in 1995. This is still the only method that meets the requirements of the European Association of TDT. And the program is implemented by such an institution as the Institute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis. Is IPPiP in Moscow.

All students in this area have to master a lot of disciplines. Preparation is comprehensive and serious. Leading specialists are involved in teaching not only from Russia, but also from the US and Europe.

During the training, future therapists undergo theoretical seminars on TDT and psychological counseling. Also the program includes supervisions. Still students have to go through personal psychotherapy and clinical practice.

Educational nuances

It is important to note that this is not a 4-year course, but professional retraining, at the end of which students are given the appropriate diploma. This document gives specialists the right to conduct professional activities in the field of psychotherapy and, of course, TDT.

For admission it is necessary to compile a questionnaire and write a meaningful essay (a kind of creative contest). Also, every future student is required to pass an introductory course on TDT. This is necessary to identify the ability of a person to this activity. The program includes 10 hours of the basics of creative dance and 50 - group TDT "The main life themes". After completing the course, a person is interviewed and accepted for training.

By the way, today there is also a regional training program, which you can go through in the center of healing art and creativity in Ufa, which cooperates with the previously mentioned university (IPPiP).