Keywords: play, dance movement therapy, relationships, communication, creativity
Page #: 43
Often play and dance/movement therapy are viewed as separate ways of working with children, with play therapy using verbal metaphors that emerge from improvised play expression and dance therapy proceeding in a more physical mode. However, both play and dance have certain common therapeutic ingredients such as the experience of fun; pleasure; the element of developing relationships through emotional attunement; communication; and the facilitation of spontaneous creativity as curative factors. This paper will introduce a theoretical understanding of how these child related disciplines can be used together as well as provide several dance therapy skills related to the use of physical play in the therapy action within a variety of treatment contexts.