“How can a person still live with dignity, meaning, and connection, even when circumstances cannot be changed?” This is exactly where Dance/Movement Therapy and Palliative Care meet, not just in theory, but in every moment spent by the patient's side as a HUMAN BEING.

Neuroscience and psychology have shown that the body holds memories of traumatic experiences—and that the body itself is also the gateway to recovery and renewal when it is truly listened to. Two internationally recognized therapeutic approaches—Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) and Somatic Experiencing (SE)—emerged from this foundation. Each functions as its own language of the body, reaching into the deepest layers of emotion, mind, and memory.

In recent years, research in somatic psychology and interpersonal neurobiology has shown that bodily movement can have a powerful impact on the nervous system, emotions, and the capacity for psychological regulation. As a result, approaches such as Dance/Movement Therapy and Therapeutic Dance have received growing attention. However, they are not the same.

Although dance cannot change the DNA sequence itself, scientific research shows that dance can influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. This means that dance can affect physical and mental health by regulating how genes function—without altering the underlying genetic code.

Dance helps reduce stress, regulate hormones, and may influence genes related to aging, metabolism, and the immune system.

Healthy Boundaries: The Key to Protecting Mental Health

BODY WISDOM

Inhale. Exhale.
Is your body whispering something to you?

5 Secrets to Help You “Listen” to Yourself More Effectively

Amid the rush of daily life, we often function like machines—eating, working, moving, and interacting—while forgetting the subtle signals coming from our bodies. In truth, the body is constantly “in conversation” with us, in every single moment.

Creative Dance – Barbara Mettler and Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) are two completely different fields and approaches.

This explanation is offered by Ms. Bùi Tuyết Minh, a Dance/Movement Therapist, a member of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), and a second-generation student of Barbara Mettler in Creative Dance.