Body language: Why movement belongs in the therapy room

We use body-based metaphors all the time without even thinking about it. We talk about "Carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders," "Getting cold feet," or "Trusting our gut." These phrases aren’t just poetic - they tell us something profound about how humans experience emotions. We don’t just think and feel in our heads; we feel everything in our bodies.

So, why do we so often ignore the body in therapy?

The mind-body connection in therapy

Traditional talk therapy tends to focus on words, cognition, and analysis but, sometimes, words just aren’t enough. The body holds memories and emotions in ways we can’t always articulate.

Trauma research shows that unprocessed emotions can get 'stuck' in the body, showing up as tension, chronic pain, or nervous system dysregulation. Somatic therapy works with this reality rather than against it, helping clients use movement, breathwork, and bodily awareness to release and process emotions.

What is somatic therapy?

Somatic psychotherapy isn’t just about movement - it’s about noticing, listening to, and working with the body. Here are some ways therapists use somatic approaches in sessions:

What is dance movement psychotherapy?

Dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) takes things a step further, using movement itself as the therapeutic tool. Unlike dance classes, which focus on learning steps, DMP is about moving in ways that feel right for you. It’s not about getting it 'right' - it’s about exploring, expressing, and connecting with yourself in a new way.

A DMP therapist might notice a client habitually curling inward and invite them to try a more expansive movement to explore what that feels like. A person struggling to verbalise their emotions might find that they can "speak" through movement. The body often knows what words cannot express, and movement can unlock emotions that have been buried or stuck for years.

DMP is particularly powerful for people who find verbal therapy challenging, including those dealing with trauma, grief, neurodivergence, or body image struggles. It provides another way in - another way to process, release, and heal.

Healing through movement

The fact that body-based metaphors are so ingrained in our language shows just how much we already understand that our emotions live in our bodies. Integrating somatic approaches and movement-based therapy into psychotherapy isn’t a 'bonus' - for some people, it’s essential.

True psychological well-being isn’t just about changing our thoughts. It’s about reconnecting with the body, allowing it to express what it needs to, and moving - literally and figuratively - towards healing.

This might be your sign to put your "best foot forward" and give somatic therapy or dance movement psychotherapy a try.