Moving toward cohesion: Group dance/movement therapy with children in psychiatry

This paper describes dance/movement therapy (DMT) with children ages 5–8 on a short-term inpatient psychiatric unit in a major teaching hospital. The authors contend that DMT is a valuable treatment modality for creating cohesion in groups of children who have previously been chaotic and disorganized. They also contend that this sense of cohesion provides support, and a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere in which the children are able to work toward attaining therapeutic goals. The development of body image, self-awareness, and awareness of others are important components of DMT sessions described in this paper, and serve as the foundation upon which cohesion is built. To illustrate the effectiveness of DMT in promoting group cohesion, a specific session is described. Changes in behavior that were observed in the group, and on the unit, included improved impulse control, frustration tolerance, gratification delay, and ability to get along with others.