Psychoanalysis and Dance Therapy:: Effects on Self-Confidence, Body-Perception and Mental Health. A Qualitative Study.

The question of the relation of soma and psyche is an issue that has been discussed by many philosophers present and past. How are physical and mental mechanisms working together? Are they deeply related to each other or should they be regarded as two separate, independent entities? Psychoanalysis is an example for a theoretical concept where the assumption of the existence of unconscious mechanisms is mainly based on mental and psychological processes. But could not the language of the body or the body itself give essential and relevant hints to the psyche?s unconscious mechanisms? My aim is to show that psychoanalytical theory is strongly based on and related to physical and corporal mechanisms and point out the connection of psyche and physicality. By telling the very personal dance and movement therapy experiences of my ten interviewees, the significance of a non-verbal, body-oriented and holictic approach within analytic therapy is emphasized. The following work shall be a contribution to raising awareness of the existence of the deep and complex relation of soma and psyche.