Self-witnessing as self-care: an artistic inquiry of a dance movement psychotherapy trainee preparing for clinical work

Abstract

Written from the perspective of a student practitioner, this research explores dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) as a resource to unpack and offer restorative support regarding trainees’ lived experiences, to prepare for and process clinical work. Noting trainee DMPs’ responses to client work, and considering how their contextual relationships with their own bodies influenced these responses, this paper explores how witnessing and engaging with the physical lived experience of the practitioner may influence psychotherapeutic practice. This research explores DMP techniques as a resource for DMP practitioners to create embodied self-portraits, with a focus on the writer’s personal process during training. By allowing tentative access to self-support and containment during clinical work, embodied self-witnessing was found to be an effective method of self-acceptance. It further assisted in creating an understanding of the practitioner’s personal experience as a significant resource. When interacted with mindfully, these learnings could improve trainees’ burgeoning DMP practice.

Keywords:

• Dance movement psychotherapy
• self-care
• self-witnessing
• trainee
• clinical preparation
• student practitioner

Acknowledgements

Special thank you to my research participants, and to my tutors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Serena Paver

Serena Paver is a South African dance movement psychotherapist. This article is a recomposition of her research dissertation, completed in 2022 to fulfil the requirements of a master’s degree in dance movement psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton. She works in London, United Kingdom.