An Introduction to Dance Movement Therapy in Psychiatry Book

"An Introduction to Dance Movement Therapy in Psychiatry" is the first full-length study of the subject. Beginning with the early history of the use of DMT with psychiatric patients, the author goes on to describe present-day theories and practice, using extensive clinical examples drawn from her own professional experience to illustrate differing theoretical approaches in action with both individuals and groups. The practice section of the book covers work with long-term patients, adult out-patients and DMT in child and family psychiatry. Outlines are given of the psychodynamic, Jungian, ego-psychoanalytic and Gestalt schools, together with a description of group work from various approaches, including psychoanalytically informed work and methods derived form Irvin Yalom's existential perspective. A new "symbolic" approach to DMT is also described which combines the theories of Bion and Winnicott with traditional DMT methods. Here the author stresses how the imagery and metaphor that arise during the process can be used to provide safe, contained structure for exploration of psychiatric patients' emotional issues. This book should be of interest to professionals in training and practice from the fields of psychiatry, dance movement therapy and mental health.Read More