Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is an embodied psychotherapeutic modality integrating movement, creative expression, and relational engagement to enhance psychological well-being. While accumulating evidence supports its efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms, the evidence for its potential therapeutic mechanism, especially its impact on emotional regulation, remains insufficient. This qualitative investigation employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experiences and meaning-making processes of individuals engaged in DMT for depression. Data were derived from three complementary sources: (a) a thematic synthesis of existing qualitative literature, (b) semi-structured interviews with 6 adults clinically diagnosed with depression who completed at least eight DMT sessions, and (c) in-depth interviews with three certified DMT practitioners. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and systematically analyzed to identify convergent and divergent experiential themes. Analysis revealed three superordinate themes: (1) movement as a catalyst for emotional activation, release, and symbolic expression; (2) embodied awareness as a mediator between intrapersonal insight and interpersonal connection; and (3) progressive change characterized by enhanced self-agency, emotional regulation, and reconstructed self-narratives. Participants also reported substantial improvements in sleep quality and mood stability, accompanied by reductions in self-reported depression ratings. Findings indicate that DMT fosters integrative body–mind engagement, facilitates emotional processing, improves sleep, and supports transformative recovery trajectories in depression. By triangulating literature-based insights with patient and practitioner perspectives, this study advances a nuanced conceptual framework for the role of creative, embodied practices in contemporary mental health care.

Authors:
Libei Wang, University of Malaya, Malaysia

About the Presenter(s)
Wang Libei is a PhD candidate at the University of Malaya and a Dance Movement Therapist candidate of the American Dance Therapy Association. Her current PhD project is on dance therapy for patients with depression.

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