Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Couples Dance/Movement Therapy: Bringing a Theoretical Framework into Practice

  • Published:
American Journal of Dance Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Romantic relationships have a highly-charged nonverbal component making dance/movement therapy (DMT) an ideal treatment modality. While a handful of dance/movement therapists have written about work that explores romantic partnering and some dance/movement therapists offer therapy for couples, couples DMT remains a new theoretical frontier. As of 2017, no theoretical framework exists to guide therapeutic intervention in the relational dances of romantic partners. Borrowing from counseling and marriage and family therapy theories, integrated with DMT theories and supported by recent neuroscience, the authors propose a theoretical framework for therapists and educators to consider. Much of couples counseling theory comes out of attachment theory which dance/movement therapists understand kinesthetically if not yet in specific application to couples movements. The field of DMT and counseling both note that relational dances are influenced by cultural context and thus this proposed theoretical framework acknowledges the importance of therapists maintaining cultural awareness. Finally, healthy sexuality requires the kind of embodiment that DMT facilitates, which supports the authors’ proposal that couples DMT contributes such a valuable addition to traditional couples therapy that the development of a theoretical framework for that work will serve DMT practitioners as well as the therapeutic field as a whole.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, J. (2002). Offering from the conscious body: The discipline of authentic movement. Rochester, VT: Lake Book Manufacturing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ainsworth, M. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation experiments. New York: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg, M., Brenner, G., & Berry, D. (2015). Irrelationship: How we use dysfunctional relationships to hide from intimacy. Las Vegas, NV: Central Recovery Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, G. (1992). The five love languages: The secret to love that lasts. Chicago, IL: Northfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatara-Middleton, A. (2012). Working with non-monogamy: Dance/movement therapists’ experience of working with individuals in non-monogamous relationships. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 34(2), 114–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-012-9138-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M., Weitz, S., & Culkin, J. (1980). Sex differences in movement style: A multivariate analysis of naive and laban-based ratings. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 3(2), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02579614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. (2015). The biobehavioral legacy of early attachment relationships for adult emotional and interpersonal functioning. In V. Zayas & C. Hazan (Eds.), Bases of adult attachment: Linking brain, mind and behavior (pp. 79–105). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogarty, T. F. (1979). The distancer and the pursuer. The Family, 7, 11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraenkel, D. L. (1983). The relationship of empathy in movement to synchrony, echoing, and empathy in verbal interactions. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 6(1), 31–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02579518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M. (1994). Why marriages succeed or fail. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M., & DeClaire, J. (2001). The relationship cure. New York: Crown Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (2008). Gottman method couple therapy. In A. S. Gurman (Ed.), Clinical hand-book of couple therapy (4th ed., pp. 138–164). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (1999). The seven principles for making marriage work. New York: Crown Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackney, M. E., & Gammon, M. E. (2010). Recommendations for implementing tango classes for persons with Parkinson disease. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 32(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-010-9086-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hackney, M. E., Kantorovich, S., & Gammon, M. E. (2007). A study on the effects of Argentine tango as a form of partnered dance for those with Parkinson disease and the healthy elderly. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 29(2), 109–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-007-9039-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix, H. (1988). Getting the love you want: A guide for couples. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix, H., & Hunt, H. L. (2004). Transform your relationship by letting yourself be loved. New York: Atria Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbine-Blank, T., Kerpelman, D. M., & Sweezy, M. (2016). Intimacy from the inside out. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. M. (1996). The practice of emotionally focused marital therapy: Creating connection. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. (2008). Hold me tight: Seven conversations for a lifetime of love. New York: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. M., Makinen, J. A., & Millikin, J. W. (2001). Attachment injuries in couple relationships: A new perspective on impasses in couples therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27(2), 145–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb01152.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. (1975). The new sex therapy: Active treatment of sexual dysfunctions. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, L. (1978). Oneness and separateness: From infant to individual. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kestenberg Amighi, J., Loman, S., Lewis, P., & Sossin, M. (1999). The meaning of movement: Developmental and clinical perspectives of the Kestenberg Movement Profile. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kierr, S. (2012). James Milton Murphy: James Murphy’s how you and your mate can become a super couple: With exercises to get you there, vol. 1 functions 2011. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 34(2), 171–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-012-9139-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, P. (1997). Waking the tiger: Healing trauma. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, A., & Heller, R. (2012). Attached: The new science of adult attachment and how it can help you find and keep love. New York, NY: Tarcher/Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, P. (1996). Depth psychotherapy in dance/movement therapy. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 18(2), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02359319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. M. S., & Vieira, A. P. (2007). Ballroom dance as therapy for the elderly in Brazil. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 29(2), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-007-9040-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loman, S. (2016). Judith S. Kestenberg’s dance/movement therapy legacy: Approaches with pregnancy, young children, and caregivers. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 38(2), 225–244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-016-9218-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. B. (1976). Toward a new psychology of women (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. B., & Stiver, I. (1991). A relational reframing of therapy. Wellesley, MA: The Stone Center, Wellesley College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, C.-L. (2012). Laban movement analysis and harmonic theory. Arvada, CO: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. M. (2011). How you and your mate can become a super couple: With exercises to get you there (Vol. 1). Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naess, J. (1982). A developmental approach to the interactive process in dance/movement therapy. American Journal of Dance/Movement Therapy, 5(1), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02579540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Napier, A. (1988). The fragile bond: In search of an equal, intimate, and enduring marriage. London, England: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padrão, M. J., & Coimbra, J. L. (2011). The anorectic dance: Towards a new understanding of inner-experience through psychotherapeutic movement. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 33(2), 131–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-011-9113-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perel, E. (2006). Mating in captivity: Unlocking erotic intelligence. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, self-regulation. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S., & Carter, S. (2016, October). Polyvagal-informed therapy for trauma, attachment and autism. Regeneration: Moving pathways to integration. Keynote presented at the 51st annual conference of the American Dance Therapy Association, Bethesda, MD.

  • Sandel, S., Chaiklin, S., & Lohn, A. (1993). Foundations of dance/movement therapy: The life work of Marian Chace. Columbia, MD: The Marian Chace Memorial Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schore, A. (1999). Affect regulation and the origin of the self. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, R. (1995). Internal family systems therapy. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, R. (2008). You are the one you’ve been waiting for: Bringing courageous love to intimate relationships. Oak Park, IL: Trailhead Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P., & Mikulincer, M. (2002). Attachment-related psychodynamics. Attachment and Human Development, 4(2), 133–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730210154171

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P., & Mikulincer, M. (2007). Adult attachment strategies and the regulation of emotion. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 446–465). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, D. J. (2012). Developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, K. S. (1978). Dance/movement therapy with couples. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 2(2), 12–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02593050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tronick, E. (1989). Emotions and emotional communication in infants. American Psychologist, 44(2), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.44.2.112

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tronick, E. (2007). The neurobehavioral and social-emotional development of infants and children. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, D. (2015a). Is my anxiety attracting your depression? Polyvagal theory in romance. Elephant Journal. Retrieved from https://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/11/is-my-anxiety-attracting-your-depression-polyvagal-theory-in-romance/

  • Wagner, D. (2015b). Polyvagal theory and peek-a-boo: How the therapeutic pas de deux heals attachment trauma. Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy: An International Journal for Theory, Research and Practice, 10(4), 256–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2015.1069762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waisman, O. S. (2014). Mismatches as milestones in dance movement therapy. Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy: An International Journal for Theory, Research and Practice, 9(4), 224–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2014.947324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, M. S., & Pallaro, P. (2007). Authentic movement: Moving the body, moving the self, being moved. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. (2017). The therapeutic movement relationship in dance/movement therapy: A phenomenological study. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 39(1), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-017-9241-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Link Counseling Center, 384 Mt. Vernon Highway NE, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328, USA

    Dee Wagner

  2. Mind Body Connections, 3 S. 101 Rockwell #247, Warrenville, IL, 60555, USA

    Stacey McGinn Hurst

Authors
  1. Dee Wagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stacey McGinn Hurst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dee Wagner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wagner, D., Hurst, S.M. Couples Dance/Movement Therapy: Bringing a Theoretical Framework into Practice. Am J Dance Ther 40, 18–43 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-018-9271-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-018-9271-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation