Grounding in dance movement therapy for people with persistent physical complaints, 2025, Silva et al

[Hutan]

Authors: Fernanda Silva, Ditty Dokta, Rosemarie Samaritter
Rotterdam, Netherlands


Abstract
This article studies grounding in Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) for people with persistent physical complaints (PPC). Existing literature identifies the potential of grounding for PPC. This article is based on an embedded case-study research of a 7-week DMT community programme. Six body-focused interviews with two participants and participant-observation notes were analysed through thematic and movement observation analysis.

The participants identified agency, free dance, (re)connection between body-parts and raised awareness as helping themes; and the use of breath and verbal reflection as hindering themes. The literature indicates agency, free dance and raised awareness as beneficial for people with PPC. Even though the participants did not highlight grounding as helping or hindering, they used grounding when expressing agency, free dance and (re)connection between body-parts.

Suggestions for future research and practice include noting voluntary grounding actions of participants and their effects.


Keywords:

• Dance movement therapy
• grounding
• persistent physical complaints
• medically unexplained symptoms
• chronic pain

Link: Paywall
Journal of Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy

 

[hotblack]

I used to like dancing and if I could again I would like that too. Is this a ‘nice things are nice’ paper?

 

[BrokenBeaktheBrave]

"medically unexplained symptoms" needs to be re-labelled as "symptoms that are woefully unresearched". We aren't some medical mystery - we are medically neglected due to a lack of adequate research.

 

[tornandfrayed]

what does grounding mean?

Subjective responses from a whole TWO people - well, that's me convinced.

 

[Evergreen]

Is this a ‘nice things are nice’ paper?

 

[Trish]

They have no idea.

 

[Hutan]

what does grounding mean?

I can't see this paper. but, the AI response to the question is

Grounding in Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a core principle using physical movement to connect clients to their bodies, emotions, and present reality, fostering stability, self-awareness and emotional regulation, especially for trauma, anxiety, or dissociation, through exercises like weight shifts, rhythmic footwork, connecting to gravity, and sensory awareness to anchor the self and release tension. It helps individuals move from being "in their heads" to embodied presence by rooting them to the earth and releasing energy, promoting a sense of safety and integration.

So, when applied to people with ME/CFS as a therapy, it is a naive, troublesome and gaslighting concept.

 

[NelliePledge]

Just ugh

 

[Kitty]

I was a dancer, and grounding for me meant flat on my backside.

So, when applied to people with ME/CFS as a therapy, it is a naive, troublesome and gaslighting concept.

But, yeah.

 

[Utsikt]

I know people that were taught grounding for anxiety.

It meant to focus on things around you that you could observe with your senses, and say them out loud.

I think it was 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch and so on.

It’s just trying to distract yourself.

 

[Sean]

It’s just trying to distract yourself.

A lot of the psych based 'treatment' is just a combination of that, plus encouraging the patient to simply deny the reality of their situation, a form of self-gaslighting.

Distract and deny therapy.