Dance Movement Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Kayla Alvarez
Dance Movement Therapy: Healing from the Inside Out
Rutgers University
Research in the Disciplines
Professor Messina
April 2018

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Introduction
Mental and emotional rehabilitation through dance/movement therapy (DMT) is an
effective holistic remedy that is as viable as clinical treatments, specifically in the intervention of
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Though considered an artform, dance provides patients with
a creative yet healthy way of coping with, and combating, the negative symptoms associated
with ASD. I will be using the Embodied Simulation Theory as a framework in my research to
prove that the substantial amount of physicality within DMT can lead to mental and emotional
development, which can also enhance social interactions. Social skills are elements of self that
are scarce within ASD patients. This theory helps to “draw conclusions about others’ mental
states by neural mirroring of their actions”, a key component in emotional progression and
empathy (Hildebrandt, 2016, p. 2). This framework assumes that cognition is essentially
grounded in bodily states, emphasizing the connection and attunement between body and mind in
humans (Hildebrandt, 2016, p. 3). Dance, as a form of therapy, strategizes the output of
movement in accordance to mental processes. In turn, this evokes a greater understanding of self,
which makes it an exemplary tactic in effectively treating individuals with ASD and other mental
illnesses/ailments. Because mental deficits are often characterized by alterations in thinking,
mood or behavior, much like symptoms found in ASD, identical symptoms found in ASD
individuals and others with mental deficits will be used to support the rehabilitation of the
psyche. A holistic approach towards ASDs could introduce healthy ways of coping, encourage
interaction, and pave the way for individualized treatment methods. Dance Movement Therapy
rehabilitates the psyche by way of the body initiating exploration of awareness in order to

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develop cognitive, emotional, and social processes through self expression in those with Autism
Spectrum Disorders.
Overview
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders and Dance Movement Therapy is important
in the fundamentals of the Embodied Simulation Theory. The article “Moving on the spectrum:
Dance/movement therapy as a potential early intervention tool for children with Autism
Spectrum Disorders” written by Mary Martin, discusses the social and communicative
challenges, as well as motor maturation, within Autism Spectrum Disorders. ASDs are often
categorized in accordance with “persistent deficits in social communication and social
interaction across multiple contexts” and repetitive patterns of behavior (Martin, 2014, p. 546).
As understood that the mind and body work in conjunction, the above quote can further support
that little movement, such as face to face interactions/behaviors, can cause stagnancy in social
development.
Furthermore, the article “Moving in and out of synchrony: A concept for a new
intervention fostering empathy through interactional movement and dance”, written by Andrea
Behrends, Sybille Müller, and Isabel Dziobek, describes and analyzes Dance/Movement Therapy
and its significant aid in the treatment of negative symptoms within ASD, focusing on the
development of empathy and emotional understanding. DMT is an internationally recognized
body/art based form of therapy for somatic/psychic illnesses that focuses on the “essential
realization that individuals can, through the medium of dance, relate to the community they are
part of, and can simultaneously express their own impulses and needs within that group”
(Behrends, Müller, Dziobek, 2012, p. 107). DMT helps in establishing a sense of security

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between the patient to their environment and peers by encouraging them to deliberately hone in
on their unexplored emotional capabilities. The process uses movement of the body to awaken
“movement” in the mind, which leads to a gradual progression in self confidence and
understanding. Furthermore, I will utilize the article, "We dance and find each other:” Effects of
Dance/Movement Therapy on negative symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” written by
Malin K. Hildebrandt, Sabine C. Koch, and Thomas Fuchs to emphasize the interchangeability
of the mind and body- as well as the co-occurence of behavioral and mental states.
In this paper, I will analyze the effects of DMT to argue its importance in the
development of mental health as well as the treatment of negative symptoms within ASDs. I will
do so by incorporating ideas and other theories that correspond to the main theoretical
framework, the Embodied Simulation Theory. I will then reintroduce Behrends, Müller,
Dziobek’s article, “Moving in and out of synchrony: A concept for a new intervention fostering
empathy through interactional movement and dance,” in order to analyze the neural mirroring
process within DMT and its importance in establishing interpersonal connections and emotional
development. To support this text I will provide evidence from DMT sessions within the case
study, “Through the kinesthetic lens: Observation of social attunement in Autism Spectrum
Disorders,” researched by Rosemarie Samaritter and Helen Payne, to support how and why DMT
positively affects emotional range and Social Engagement and Attunement Movement (SEAM).
Next, I will use the article, “A place and space to survive: A dance/movement therapy program
for childhood sexual abuse survivors,” written by Rainbow Tin Hung Ho, to analyze how the
exploration of space can foster a sense of attachment- important in healthy relationships with
others and with self. Thereafter, I will enhance these claims with the case study, “Effects of

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dance therapy and ballroom dances on physical and mental illnesses: A systematic review,”
written by Marie-Sophie Kiepe, Barbara Stöckigt, and Thomas Keil, to examine DMTs effects on
other mental illnesses in accordance to ASDs. This study will help me find similar symptoms in
other illnesses that correlate with ASD and how DMT enhances new mental processes and
understandings.
Moving Toward Emotional Developments
DMT’s emphasis on neural mirroring helps in establishing empathy and emotional
understanding through motor cognition in ASDs. Neural mirroring is when the “action of another
person automatically relates to the observer’s mirror neuron system, with the effect that in the
observer, the same brain areas are being activated as though one is performing the action
oneself” (Behrends, Müller, Dziobek, 2012, p. 110). Because mirror neurons are enticed by
action, this statement further supports the position that the mind and body work interchangeably-
as defined by the Embodied Simulation Theory. As neural mirroring is the ability for one to
relate to another’s behavior, continuous practice strengthens neural connections between the
instructor and observer, which enhances the “connection between one’s own motor experience
and intersubjective and empathic processes” (Behrends, Müller, Dziobek, 2012, p. 110). In
Samaritter and Payne’s case study with DMT, which included dance therapy sessions with
individuals with ASD with a mean age of 12.2 years, a significant increase in Social Engagement
and Attunement Movement (SEAM) was evident. Their observations support DMT’s focus on
neural mirroring and how it may facilitate transfer to “interactional contexts other than therapy,
because nonverbal interactions with peers or caregivers are characterized by similar dynamic
structures,” encouraging individuals with ASD to emote and build relationships with others and

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not only their therapist (Samaritter, 2017, p. 9). Such findings lead to an understanding of how
combining neural mirroring and movement therapy can lead to an establishment of empathetic
qualities as well as interpersonal connections with others. These qualities are key factors for
individuals with ASD to socially flourish and feel less isolated and misunderstood.
Interpersonal Breakthroughs and Cognitive Leaps
DMTs’ aid in the establishment of interpersonal connections with others can lead to
complex mental processes. The Theory of Attachment, presented by Ho whose research on DMT
was geared toward sexual abuse survivors, focuses on establishing a “sense of security by
internalizing the belief that the world is generally a safe place” (Ho, 2015, p. 10 ). Because DMT
enables an individual to explore space and place, as well as establish interpersonal connections, a
sense of security develops. This awareness brings a comfortability that can be useful in creating
new perceptions, known as the “connection of bodily states to emotions” (Hildebrandt, 2016, p.
11). Because sexual abuse survivors and individuals with ASD both possess issues with the
development of interpersonal relationships, it can be assumed that new perceptions would
manifest similarly in those with ASD who undergo DMT. Establishing a sense of security
encourages emotional vulnerability that can lead to complex realizations not easily perceived in
those with ASD.
Furthermore, the Theory Theory, suggested by Hildebrandt and colleagues, emphasizes
how implicit theories are built “on the co-occurrence of behavior and mental states and how they
influence each other” (Hildebrandt, 2016, p. 2). Because DMT requires behavioral and mental
qualities, between self and others, attentiveness is strengthened. A case study performed by
Kiepe and colleagues used dance on a group of adults with an array of physical and mental

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illnesses and concluded that “dance (movement) therapy seems to improve mental and physical
conditions including neurohormonal changes and quality of life” (Kiepe, 2012, p. 411). This
further supports the notion that cognitive advancements can stem from the security established
within interpersonal connections through DMT. In addition to the establishment of relationships,
DMT can lead to profound and possible long-term emotional stability and extroverted qualities
not typically visible in those with ASDs.
Sense of Self
On the contrary, it is argued that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders lack the
sense of self to establish goal-oriented behavior, concluding that their reciprocations are mere
replications of their therapist’s movement. As mentioned by Steve Lukito and colleagues in the
article, “Specificity of executive function and theory of mind performance in relation to attention
deficit/hyperactivity symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorders”, executive functions are highly
associated with cognitive flexibility deficits in ASD and are often paired with impairments of
theory of mind (Lukito, 2017, p. 1). According to Luis Poustka and colleagues in their article
“Neurobiologically based interventions for autism spectrum disorders-rationale and new
directions,” individuals with ASD show an impairment within executive function tasks which
refers to a multidimensional construct encompassed by cognitive processes that underlie
purposeful, goal-oriented behavior (Poustka, 2014, p. 201). Without such evident introspection,
individuals with ASD are less likely to produce movement that isn’t influenced by their therapist.
It is because of their inefficiency to be purposeful that individuals with ASDs are often faced
with difficulty when it comes to integrating “incoming stimuli combined with enhanced
processing of details” (Poustka, 2014, p. 201). Therefore, ASDs infringe upon the brain in a way

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that causes behavior without intent. Without intention behind an action, in this case specifically
with DMT, it can be perceived that an unintentional replication of movement, or mimicry, leads
to a superficial understanding/treatment of negative symptoms as there is no understood motive
for learning on the patient. The likeliness of DMT as an effective treatment against negative
symptoms within ASDs is slim to none as intent is a feeling that cannot be “taught” but rather
steadily built upon.
Although a sense of motive may not seem evident in those with Autism Spectrum
Disorders, therapists can individualize studies so that the focus is less about imitation and more
about non-verbal dialogue- further proving and enhancing the sense of purpose within ASD
patients. In “Moving in and out of synchrony: A concept for a new intervention fostering
empathy through interactional movement and dance”, written by Andrea Behrends and
colleagues, DMT infuses “elements with creative, cooperative, imitative or synchronous aspects”
which can increase the “quality of and possibilities for relationships with other people”
(Behrends, Müller, Dziobek, 2012, p. 108). It can be concluded that these “mirroring”
interventions lead to effects on the “sensory-motor regulation of the child, as well as the
expressive relating with the environment or a movement partner” (Samaritter, 2017, p. 3).
Expressive breakthroughs increase the ability for ASD individuals to understand social and
emotional cues.
In contrast to individualizing therapy sessions so that movement fosters an open dialogue,
the inclusion of imitation is not necessarily detrimental in the development of the patient.
Individuals on the spectrum are able to use imitation to refine “the self-other differentiation in a
relationship, which we are pursuing by the modulation and variation of movements as part of

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imitation tasks” (Behrends, 2012, p. 114). Imitation allows patients to try and relate to their
imitator, pushing them to understand others’ emotions and further improve upon their own
empathic skills. Putting themselves in their imitator’s shoes, or at least trying to, enables the
individual to apply and detect purposeful motives and incorporate them routinely into their lives
as a means of discovering their sense of self. When a sense of self is established, newfound
confidence and acceptance facilitates an open mind and generates new perspectives.
DMT’s Multiple Uses
Because of its many contributions in rehabilitating the psyche, DMT is being used to treat
other ailments, or their side effects, such as breast cancer, Fibromyalgia, and recovering stroke
victims because it enhances quality of life. DMT attunes the sense of self so that the rising of
new perspectives paves the way for an improved outlook on life. Breast cancer patients who
participated in DMT showed noticeable improvements in mood, body image, and self esteem,
while those with Fibromyalgia felt a significant increase in their well being while pain decreased
(Kiepe, 2012, p. 410). Recovering stroke victims, who often experience depression and
detachment, showed more confidence and improvement in both social and emotional qualities
(Wolff, 2017, p. 4). From this information it can be deducted that when individuals are content
with themselves, even in times of great struggle, there is a less of a pessimistic attitude towards
the future and what it holds. Because DMT aims to improve upon the needs of the patient, the
patient’s potential is evidently self-decided and obtainable. These factors constitutes feelings
of accomplishment and, ultimately, encourages patients to live without restraints no matter the
deficits.

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Similarly, the effects of DMT on the previously mentioned ailments, specifically towards
the quality and outlook of life, can be applicable to its effects on ASDs. DMT is effective
because of its ability to draw upon and enhance an individual’s innate qualities, not because it is
meant to treat a specific disorder, disease, or ailment. More importantly, DMT emphasizes self
discovery because it is the patient who moves, feels, and learns, which further inspires them to
believe that they can accomplish what they set their mind to. It is because “dance/movement
therapists offer a perspective that encompasses key elements of development, coping, and
adaptation” that patients are able to carry on these aspects of life into their futures which
encourages them to feel as if they are fully capable of putting forward the best version of
themselves possible (Cohen, 1999, p. 41). A sense of support, invigoration, and motivation is
instilled within patients so that they are able to look past the qualities that prevent them from
feeling fulfilled and instead focus on the opportunities that arise from looking at their ailment as
a positive rather than a negative.
Conclusion
Because of the wide range of negative symptoms associated with Autism Spectrum
Disorders, Dance Movement Therapy’s interdisciplinary methodology is useful for
re-establishing the innate qualities of human existence within patients. Its ability to rehabilitate
the psyche by way of the body, in order to mature cognitive, emotional, and social processes in
those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, is derived from the coexistence of the mind and body.
This coexistence, referred to as the Embodied Simulation Theory, explains how the exploration
of movement can stimulate and enhance cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. The
Theory of Attachment rationalizes that the exploration of space and place can foster feelings of

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security and comfort within non-empathic individuals which can ultimately lead to new
perceptions and complex realizations. Furthermore, the Theory Theory emphasizes the linkage of
behavioral and mental states, which, if engaged simultaneously, can lead to long-term emotional
stability and interpersonal breakthroughs. Although ASDs are complex disorders with a wide
range of symptoms, DMT targets a variety of complex functions and tasks that are
underdeveloped in those with ASD. The broad scope for diagnosing ASD is no obstacle for
DMT because of the mind’s ability to grow in response to the body- making it an unstoppable
form of treatment. Natural, holistic treatment methods, such as DMT, are highly sustainable,
non-prescriptive, self-expressive, individualized, and, most importantly, effective. Dance
Movement Therapy is able to gradually heal the negative symptoms within Autism Spectrum
Disorders, and other disorders, from the inside out. Because dancing is so regularly used for both
social and expressive purposes in society, bringing it into the medical field as a form of treatment
can help in making patients feel inclusive and involved. There is much to be explored in the
everyday world through movement, and encouraging this exploration awakens the mind,
refreshes perceptions, and helps individuals with ASDs revitalize their perspective on the world,
and most importantly, themselves.

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References
Behrends, A., Müller, S., & Dziobek, I. (2012). Moving in and out of synchrony: A concept for
a new intervention fostering empathy through interactional movement and dance. Arts In
Psychotherapy, 39(2), 107-116. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2012.02.003
Hildebrandt, M. K., Koch, S. C., & Fuchs, T. (2016). "We dance and find each other":
Effects of Dance/Movement Therapy on negative symptoms in Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Behavioral Sciences (2076-328X), 6(4), bs6040024. doi:10.3390/bs6040024
Ho, R. H. (2015). A place and space to survive: A dance/movement therapy program
for childhood sexual abuse survivors. Arts In Psychotherapy, 469-16.
doi:10.1016/j.aip.2015.09.004
Kiepe, M., Stöckigt, B., & Keil, T. (2012). Effects of dance therapy and ballroom dances
on physical and mental illnesses: A systematic review. Arts In Psychotherapy, 39(5),
404-411. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2012.06.001
Lukito, S., Jones, C. G., Pickles, A., Baird, G., Happé, F., Charman, T., & Simonoff, E. (2017).
Specificity of executive function and theory of mind performance in relation
to attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms in autism spectrum disorders. Molecular
Autism, 81-13. doi:10.1186/s13229-017-0177-1
Martin, M. (2014). Moving on the spectrum: Dance/movement therapy as a potential
early intervention tool for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Arts In
Psychotherapy, 41(5), 545-553. doi:10.1016/j.aip.2014.10.003
Poustka, L., Brandeis, D., Hohmann, S., Holtmann, M., Bölte, S., & Banaschewski, T.
(2014). Neurobiologically based interventions for autism spectrum disorders-rationale
and new directions. Restorative Neurology & Neuroscience, 32(1), 197-212.
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7(1), bs7010014. doi:10.3390/bs7010014
Wolff, S. S., dos Santos Delabary, M., & Haas, A. N. (2017). Can Dance contribute to Physical,
Emotional and Social Aspects of the Stroke Patient?. International Journal Of Therapies
& Rehabilitation Research, 6(1), 70-75. doi:10.5455/ijtrr.000000223

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Cohen, S. O., & Walco, G. A. (1999). Dance/Movement Therapy for Children and
Adolescents with Cancer. Cancer Practice, 7(1), 34-42.
doi:10.1046/j.1523-5394.1999.07105.x