Benefits of Expressive Therapies in Improving Body Image

Contributor: Rachel Sherron, MA, LPC, RYT, Coordinator of Trauma Awareness and Yoga Specialist and Lisaura Lozada-Goode, MA, LCPC, BC-DMT, Expressive Therapy Program Coordinator

Women and girls seek therapy for myriad reasons. They may struggle with a life-threatening eating disorder or addiction to alcohol or heroin. But, regardless of the disorder or addiction, the vast majority of them also possess body dissatisfaction an extremely negative body image.

It could be somewhat benign as in a general dislike of hips and thighs, or hatred so extreme that the person actively mutilates her own body.

What we find is that by the time one of these individuals enters treatment, she is ready for change. She has hated or abused her body for an extended period of time and finally realized that what she is doing is not working. Establishing a shift from body loathing to body loving is a process.

One-on-One Verbal Psychotherapy

Verbal psychotherapy is a key aspect of this process. In a one-on-one interaction, a woman can describe her history, explain situations and events, and convey thoughts and feelings. But at a certain point, words can actually get in the way of progress. This is because words keep a woman stuck in her head, instead of allowing her to connect with her emotions on a body level.

This is exactly why expressive therapies, such as yoga and dance movement therapy, are so critical in the creation of a positive body image.

Yoga Therapy

Increasingly, the ancient practice of yoga plays an integral role in helping women heal from a variety of addictions and disorders.

Connecting People to a Certain State of Mind

Yoga is a practice of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditations; the entire goal is to connect people to a certain state of mind or oneness. This union is usually a oneness of mind and body.

It helps women live in their bodies rather than view their bodies as an object. Because many women with psychiatric issues dissociate from their bodies, objectification, or viewing their bodies as a commodity, comes easily.

Increasing Interoception

Yoga works to improve body image because it increases interoception which is the mind’s ability to receive and assess sensations in the body. It is within the body that the connection to the spirit or true Self exists; without the ability to feel the body, one’s ability to connect to deeper aspects of themselves is diminished.

It is upon the (sometimes momentary) connection to true Self, that a person realizes that the body is an important and vital container that provides the ability to connect to something much larger. The obsession over how the body looks, which happens purely from cognition, begins to fade away.

Opening Up Awareness in the Subtleties of Sensations

When an individual moves her body in yoga, she starts to feel her mobility opening up awareness of the subtleties of her sensations and she gets to feel her body as her home. When she realizes its amazing strengths and capabilities, she can experience gratitude and acceptance.

Dance Movement Therapy

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is defined as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual¹.

In other words, DMT is the use of movement in a therapeutic fashion to improve the mental and physical well-being of a person. It is based in the belief that the body, mind and spirit are interconnected.

DMT is a relational therapy in which the relationship to self and others is constantly explored.

Studies in the Field of DMT

Many research studies in the field of DMT indicate that there are numerous benefits for someone engaging in this type of psychotherapeutic modality. For someone struggling with body image issues, benefits include the following:

Changes in movement patterns can result in alterations in internal perceptions/thinking patterns, such as body image or feelings about self

• DMT encourages symbolization and the use of healthy curiosity through the creative process which increases abstract thinking and both mental/emotional flexibility
• Increases adaptability, stability and healthy ability to adjust to the world/environment through expanding movement repertoire/vocabulary
• Increases awareness of internal sensations
• Helps the individual in the identification and positive expression of feelings related to body image struggles
• Increases trust in one’s body
• Encourages self-expression without judgment
• Helps the individual get in touch with playfulness
• Helps the person practice being in the present moment, being with and experience self in a positive way

Achieving Recovery

Women and girls enter treatment because an addiction or disorder has devastated their lives. The goal is to help them achieve recovery. Yet, extreme body dissatisfaction or body harm must also be addressed.

Through expressive therapies such as yoga and dance movement therapy, residents begin to respect, appreciate, even love their bodies.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

What positive experiences have you had with yoga therapy and dance movement therapy within your eating disorder treatment?

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References:

1. www.adta.org

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 1st, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com