Movement Psychotherapy

What To Expect From A Session

Movement psychotherapy will be helpful for both men and women interested in expanding their awareness of the relationship between their emotional and mental well-being in an embodied way. A session can include relaxation and breathing techniques, body-focusing exercises, mindful approaches to moving, guided movement explorations and improvised movement and vocalization.

Practicing new ways of moving in combination with verbal reflection assists in gaining new insights and perspective into personal material. Movement is both a container and metaphor for the themes that surface. In other words, by being attentive to felt senses in the body, we gather information about how we are feeling and responding to our thoughts, situations, interactions with others and the environment that surrounds us.

Music often accompanies this process. Individuals may choose to use other art forms such as drawing or writing to document their process.

Movement psychotherapy may also increase awareness of posture and habitual movement patterns. As a result, one might feel more ease of being in the body and increased range of motion.

Sessions are approximately an hour.

The following are some examples of things people have found movement psychotherapy helpful for:

• recovery from traumatic events
• managing and alleviating anxiety and depression
• grieving loss
• preventing and reducing effects of stress
• increasing confidence and assertiveness
• managing overwhelming feelings (such as regret, guilt, anger, fear)
• insight into moving forward or progressing with goals
• improving body image
• establishing healthier boundaries and communication in relationships
• greater awareness of self and ability to be present
• gaining greater understanding of dissatisfaction with certain aspects of life
• overcoming doubt in creative endeavours
• new ways to support yourself as a professional experiencing compassion fatigue