Grounding in dance movement therapy for people with persistent physical complaints, 2025, Silva et al

[Hutan]

Authors: Fernanda Silva, Ditty Dokta, Rosemarie Samaritter
Rotterdam, Netherlands


Abstract
This article studies grounding in Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) for people with persistent physical complaints (PPC). Existing literature identifies the potential of grounding for PPC. This article is based on an embedded case-study research of a 7-week DMT community programme. Six body-focused interviews with two participants and participant-observation notes were analysed through thematic and movement observation analysis.

The participants identified agency, free dance, (re)connection between body-parts and raised awareness as helping themes; and the use of breath and verbal reflection as hindering themes. The literature indicates agency, free dance and raised awareness as beneficial for people with PPC. Even though the participants did not highlight grounding as helping or hindering, they used grounding when expressing agency, free dance and (re)connection between body-parts.

Suggestions for future research and practice include noting voluntary grounding actions of participants and their effects.


Keywords:

• Dance movement therapy
• grounding
• persistent physical complaints
• medically unexplained symptoms
• chronic pain

Link: Paywall
Journal of Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy

 

[hotblack]

I used to like dancing and if I could again I would like that too. Is this a ‘nice things are nice’ paper?

 

[BrokenBeaktheBrave]

"medically unexplained symptoms" needs to be re-labelled as "symptoms that are woefully unresearched". We aren't some medical mystery - we are medically neglected due to a lack of adequate research.

 

[tornandfrayed]

what does grounding mean?

Subjective responses from a whole TWO people - well, that's me convinced.

 

[Evergreen]

Is this a ‘nice things are nice’ paper?

 

[Trish]

They have no idea.