Gestalt and dance movement psychotherapy in adults with eating disorders: Moving towards integration through practice and research

This chapter describes a practice-based pilot study investigating themes through a relational phenomenological approach in a long-term integrative Dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) group for women with anorexia nervosa (AN). Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric illness that impacts the emotional, biological and psychosocial functioning of affected individuals and their families. Treatment guidelines tend to rely on experienced practitioners’ recommendations rather than research. A multidisciplinary approach including medical, nutritional, social and psychological treatments as well as specialised psychotherapies is advocated. Psychotherapies that incorporate working with body process are uniquely suited to treating this client group. Phenomenology is concerned with wholeness and locating the essence of experience. It is dedicated to descriptions of experience, leaving out explanations, interpretations and judgements. Ethical permission was obtained from the National Health Service private sector hospital before commencing the research study. The group offered a socially acceptable opportunity for clients to experience anger as a resource for empowerment.