The interface between somatic psychotherapy and dance/movement therapy: a critical analysis

Just as a child's neurodevelopment becomes more sophisticated with life experience, somatic psychotherapy and dance/movement therapy, now in their eighth decade, are approaching a more intricate stage of growth. As each discipline grows in complexity, conflicts have risen regarding the concept of identity. The recent debate of whether dance/movement therapy is one of the somatic psychotherapies or its own discipline is a necessary and exciting 'growing pain' in the evolution of embodied psychotherapy practices. This paper provides a historic overview and uses a systems theory framework to compare the disciplines with data derived from original and recent literature. Practices, education and governance of each discipline are presented as they exist in the United States. Findings illustrate the comparison and offer clarity on the current trend towards integration. Suggestions are made for further critical thinking to develop awareness towards an evolved perspective of embodied psychotherapy practices.