When Words Aren’t Enough, the Body Speaks
As a licensed professional counselor, I’ve learned that trauma doesn’t just affect our thoughts and emotions, it lives in our bodies. The tightness in your chest, the fatigue that won’t fade, the instinct to freeze or flee. These are all ways our bodies hold on to what we’ve experienced.
That’s why Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) can be such a powerful trauma-informed approach to healing. Movement provides a way to express and release what words cannot. At Inspired Healing Therapy, we believe that healing isn’t only about talking through the past, it’s about safely reconnecting to the body that’s been carrying it.
What Is Dance/Movement Therapy?
Dance/Movement Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses movement as a pathway for emotional, physical, and psychological integration. It’s not about learning dance steps or choreography. It’s about connecting with your body’s natural rhythm, expression, and story.
For trauma survivors, this connection can be life-changing. By bringing gentle movement into therapy, clients can safely explore sensations, release stored tension, and begin to feel “at home” in their bodies again.
As the American Dance Therapy Association explains, DMT is rooted in the belief that body and mind are deeply interconnected, meaning when we move the body, we also move the emotions, thoughts, and memories stored within it.
How Dance/Movement Therapy Supports Trauma Recovery
In trauma-informed care, safety and choice always come first. DMT honors these principles by letting clients explore movement in ways that feel comfortable and empowering. There’s no right or wrong way to move — just an invitation to notice, listen, and express.
Dance/Movement Therapy can help clients:
Rebuild a sense of safety in their body after trauma.
Regulate the nervous system through grounding, rhythm, and mindful motion.
Release stored emotions and tension without needing words.
Reclaim body autonomy, reestablishing a sense of control and self-compassion.
Foster connection — between body, mind, and others.
These experiences support trauma recovery by addressing the body’s need to move, feel, and express — essential components of lasting healing.
Meet Our Dance/Movement Therapy Specialists
💃 Kali – Licensed Counselor & Dance/Movement Therapist
Kali brings deep compassion and expertise to her trauma-informed movement therapy work. Her sessions encourage clients to reconnect with their bodies in safe, empowering ways. Whether exploring gentle stretches, mindful movement, or rhythmic grounding, Kali helps clients find agency and release through movement. She understands that trauma recovery is a process — and that sometimes, the most profound healing happens when we begin to move again.
🌀 Jaclyn – Marriage and family therapist & dance/movement Therapist
Jaclyn integrates dance and expressive movement into her trauma-informed practice, helping clients explore emotions through both creativity and embodiment. She provides a compassionate space where clients can listen to their body’s messages, rediscover self-trust, and express what words cannot. Her approach celebrates movement as both a tool for healing and a way to reconnect with joy.
Together, Kali and Jaclyn embody the spirit of Inspired Healing — compassionate, creative, and grounded in trauma-informed principles of safety, trust, and empowerment.
The 4 R’s of Trauma-Informed Care in Movement Therapy
At Inspired Healing, our approach to movement therapy aligns with the 4 R’s of Trauma-Informed Care, as defined by SAMHSA:
Realize – We understand how trauma affects both body and mind.
Recognize – We notice how trauma might show up physically — in posture, breath, or tension.
Respond – We tailor every session to meet your unique needs and comfort level.
Resist Re-Traumatization – We create a safe, empowering environment where your body’s boundaries and signals are always respected.
By combining these principles with movement, we help clients experience healing not just emotionally, but physically and energetically.
Science Behind Movement and Healing
Research continues to show that the body plays a central role in trauma recovery. Movement practices such as dance therapy and somatic work can help restore regulation in the nervous system and build new pathways for resilience.
According to studies from The Trauma Research Foundation and Bessel van der Kolk, movement-based therapies help integrate trauma by engaging both the body and the brain — reestablishing safety, balance, and connection.
Ready to Reconnect With Your Body?
If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body after trauma, Dance/Movement Therapy may offer the gentle reconnection you’ve been longing for. Healing through movement isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.
At Inspired Healing Therapy, Kali and Jaclyn provide trauma-informed movement experiences that honor your pace, your body, and your story.
✨ Learn more about our approach on our About Page
✨ Explore our Services
✨ Reach out through our Let’s Get Started page to schedule a consultation.
Recommended Resources
American Dance Therapy Association – Learn more about DMT and its benefits.
The Trauma Research Foundation – Research and education on body-based trauma healing.
SAMHSA: Trauma and Violence – National guidance on trauma-informed approaches.
