Kinesthetic Empathy: The Keystone of Dance/Movement Therapy

"Sharing common rhythms and movements fosters connection, group cohesion, and community." ~ Dr. Danielle Fraenkel
Watch as Dr. Danielle Fraenkel first connects with her audience via shared rhythmic movement and then explains the integral role kinesthetic empathy plays in building a therapeutic relationship with clients.
Danielle Fraenkel, Ph.D., BC-DMT, NCC, LCAT, LMHC, CGP, received the American Dance Therapy Association’s 2014 Excellence in Education Award. She is the director of Kinections℠, the only free standing institute in the USA that offers all the dance/movement therapy courses required for certification via the alternate route. Besides teaching graduate-level courses at Kinections, supervising student and practicing dance/movement therapists, and seeing adult and adolescent clients both individually and in groups, “Dr. Dance” currently teaches Dance Therapy at the University of Rochester and advises the dance therapy program at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance.
Credentialed in both counseling and dance/movement therapy, Dr. Fraenkel is an innovator. In addition to advising the creative arts therapy master’s degree program at the University of Hong Kong, and creating DMT programs at a variety of agencies and partial programs in western New York, she developed LivingDance while working with people struggling with eating disorders and histories of trauma. Always open to evolution and the healing and creative processes in dance and music, Dr. Fraenkel, in 1998, and musician, Jeffrey Mehr, co-created LivingDance~LivingMusic, a synthesis of human development, creativity, dance, music, bodymind integrity, and counseling.
Dr. Fraenkel has introduced LivingDance~LivingMusic at numerous psychologically oriented conferences, and upon invitation, has written about LivingDance~LivingMusic, in texts devoted to group therapy. Currently, Dr. Fraenkel is developing a two-track training program in LivingDance~LivingMusic, one for educators and the other for therapists. To date, she has brought LivingDance~LivingMusic to a wide range of countries, in the east, west, and mid-east. For more information, please write to [e-mail]
For more information on the American Dance Therapy Association, please visit www.adta.org.

[@dawndid5972]

Bring it ma. You shine. Your educational expertise is delightfully delivered 👏 🙌

[@alicynstephens9136]

I really enjoyed this ADTA talk because it shows just how much movement analysis on a day to day basis can do so much for people

[@kaylavanasten7414]

I really appreciate that Dr. Fraenkel noted that indigenous communities have know about the inherent value and effects of shared rhythm and movement for years before. It is so important to disprove the notion of discovery or claim, DMT did not "discover" what is mentioned above, rather DMT followed/was introduced to something already known, valued, and practiced

[@rebeccaalterson1644]

This is a very well done talk. I really enjoy how she demonstrated an example of what she was talking about. Connections are essential between the patient and the therapist so this backs that up very well.

[@sarahkoehler7874]

I also appreciated how in depth the speaker described her kinesethic attention and empathy with the example of her client Paul. That connection was really helpful as it made it clear how important trust is between the therapist and client.

[@victoriaharris4061]

Very true! Paul's story is a perfect example for using kinesthetic empathy in a dance therapy session.

[@yunho6248]

I couldn't agree with her more. Indeed, synchronized movement creates connection to the group.

[@sunwooooooo]

I enjoyed Dr. Fraenkel's demonstration of shared rhythm and movement with the audience. This interaction demonstrates how shared movement is innate from infanthood and human history. I am impressed in Fraenkel's acute observational skills to "attune" to her patients. Her kinesthetic empathy is powerful yet subtle enough to bring attention to one's breathing or one's speech pattern. I am intrigued to how people without cultural or past individual experience in dance react to DMT. "Movement dialogue" such as mirroring and turn taking are powerful tools to awaken play and kinesthetic expression.

[@kaiacollins3123]

I loved the introduction to this video as it shows just how powerful kinesthetic empathy is in terms of connecting to those around you. The speaker talked about how Native Americans used shared rhythms to build community and connect with others. The example with Paul was very interesting to me, especially how the therapist discovered that through synchronized movements and kinesthetic empathy Paul was able to trust his therapist and have meaningful conversations in marriage counseling. Kinesthetic empathy is the keystone to building therapeutic and trusting relationships. I feel that sometimes I also have to get out of my comfort zone and not be afraid to share my beat with others who are close to me. Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication is.

[@sierratanji8240]

After learning about nonverbal communication, kinesthetic empathy is looking at the kinesics of a person when they move or dance to different rhythms. Dance/movement therapy , uses the structure of natural movement and nonverbal cues to help guide people in need of help finding their inner life. I found it extremely helpful that she stated the talk with a dance party, because it really did explain perfectly how this empathy of movement makes you feel. You can clearly see on the audience facial expressions that they are happy, joyful, and playful.

[@emilysprague5532]

The client example Fraenkel provided was interesting and showed how DMT can help us regain connections with others and become more comfortable with sharing our feelings. This can be more challenging for some people than others, but we all have access to it through movement.

[@sarahkoehler7874]

This video really made it clear how important it is to kinesthetically attune to others, both in the context of dmt and just in life. By kinesthetic empathy the speaker was able to connect with Paul (her client) in a way that he hadn’t been able to before. This made such a different in his life, relationships, and marriage

[@TheBesttify]

I also loved how they both were able to build and seek an alliance within themselves and for each other. It's amazing to me how he became more capable of expressing his feelings.

[@victoriaharris4061]

Paul's story was definitely very interesting but important for demonstrating how to use kinesthetic empathy.

[@abigailanderson7894]

I really liked how Dr. Fraenkel said there is no right or wrong way to move and that movement provides a relief from shame that some drug addicts feel

[@MaryAnnMontalbo]

"Kinesthetic energy is the keystone to dance movement therapy" this phrase resonated with me, due to the fact I was in a nonverbal communication class, and our instructor is a certified dance movement therapist who guided our class through dance movement therapy. As a class, we followed the pace and movement that our instructor expressed. After the movement, it was clear that the kinesthetic empathy made us sympathize with the movements our instructor had expressed. When prompted and asked how we felt after doing the movement, our class had similar and collective answers. This to me, is one of the most interesting aspects about dance movement therapy.

[@christinagmorales-grace2282]

therapy process, especially for those who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. The story of Paul and his experience with dance therapy was inspiring, as he was willing to step out of his comfort zone and try something new to save his marriage. It was touching to see how his therapist was able to adapt the therapy sessions to meet his individual needs and how they were able to form a strong connection through movement. The video also highlights the importance of using traditional knowledge and practices from indigenous cultures in modern therapy practices. Overall, the video encourages us to recognize the power of movement and kinesthetic empathy in building connections with others and promoting healing.

[@lanaruthmaki2813]

I liked how this video ended. "Using kinesthetic empathy moves us in the right direction." Very nice!

[@oliviapolich451]

I never thought about this idea before studying it this year. It is so crazy to think that we make connections in this way and you don't even realize it!

[@victoriaharris4061]

Paul's story was very interesting. I like how she defines kinesthetic empathy and explains how it is used throughout a session. Moving to a kinesthetic empathy resonance, similar movements, etc.

[@ellaredmore9016]

I think this video does a really good job of describing kinesthetic empathy. I think it is really important. I've found I have more effective interactions with other people when I match their kinesthetic energy.

[@jordandahlhauser3294]

I think using Paul's story provided a great example of how kinesthetic empathy can help a client who is going through a difficult time in their life.

[@jamiemccoy9920]

Dance Therapy - It is so cool how dance movement therapy therapists have perfected the art of matching a clients tone, energy, and overall body rhythm to how they are feeling and what is going on in their life.

[@justinmagnus8567]

I really like how she started this video. She demonstrated kinesthetic empathy so that we had an example of what she is talking about. I was drawn to her story of Paul. I like how in order to help him, she had to learn about him and tailor make the sessions. She learned about him through kinesthetic empathy. By realizing Paul needed to take breaks more often than her normal sessions and implementing those breaks, she strengthened her connection with Paul and really helped him.

[@morganpeters2214]

Physical activity by myself makes me feel better, so it would make sense that moving together builds community. I love that feeling!

[@sarahkoehler7874]

Group cohesion and connection comes easily with music and clapping, it’s something we have mostly all been exposed to are comfortable participating in. The beginning of this video was a perfect example of that community building that you mentioned!

[@stephaniekressin8360]

I love that they brought up the point that kinesthetic empathy and verbal empathy is key to building trusting relationships. You have to provide comprehensive care in order to best understand your client's mental state and help to foster a deeper connection

[@emilysprague5532]

Good point. It takes active care from both individuals, but especially the therapist, to build a trusting relationship, which is crucial to the effectiveness of therapy.

[@teresaflores6468]

It is beautiful to see how the concept was introduced at the very beginning of the presentation. It even made me happier to see them dancing together. This video proves to me, once again, that we are contagious to each other and that we can heal as a collective through shared rhythms. Just like my nonverbal communication teacher showed us, simply moving together in space is therapeutic.

[@danijelafechushak767]

Our sixth sense our kinesthetic sense is how we can connect in dance movement therapy through the keystone kinesthetic empathy. The point kinesthetic empathy as a resonant state beyond just the technique was interesting point and really supported the idea that kinesthetic empathy can allow a deeper connection in the patient and therapist making it one of the most important tools in movement therapy.

[@morganpeters2214]

The connection between therapist and patient can grow so strong. I hadn't recognized it until this video, but it makes sense that through physical activity there is an internal bonding because there is a universal story being communicated.

[@chloedruckrey779]

The way that Danielle began this presentation was beautiful and had a strong effect on her presentation. I like that this talk umbrellas the full idea of DMT and how the implementation of it helps in a wide variety of areas. The way Dance Movement Therapists use kinesthetic empathy allows the clients to feel heard without having to talk.

[@marleehalbach4643]

Very interesting example from Paul's experience with DMT. It is amazing to see how the therapist was able to connect some of Paul's problems with how he was connecting to dance movement therapy through moving in cohesion with her.

[@emilysprague5532]

I thought her story about Paul was interesting as well. DMT proved to be beneficial for him, and I even wonder if having his wife join in on some sessions would help them.

[@WeAreComingHome]

I agree. I also appreciated that while she as a therapist drew connections between his discomfort with connection and his marital problems, she introduced to him grounding movements/skills that matched more appropriately where he was in the moment and what he needed.

[@jordandahlhauser3294]

I like how she started of her talk with music and group movement to illustrate her point about movement. She showed right away that we can move as one and nonverbally communicate with each other.

[@peytonbohn1309]

This talk was very beautiful. She seems like such a wonderful person. Her relationship with her client Paul and all she discovered through his DMT journey is very moving.

[@ansleylaev2576]

I really appreciated the profound concept that Dr. Fraenkel presented of how deeply movement can affect someone and reveal the real issues of insecurity or pain happening inside them.

[@octaband6812]

Beautiful description of how dance/movement therapists work and the tools we use. Thank you, Dani.

[@marleehalbach4643]

Yes, learning what Dani did in order to connect to Paul to figure out some of his issues is amazing. So talented!

[@elisakeefner6616]

I agree that Dani did a truly beautiful job of explaining kinesthetic empathy and Paul's story. It was so inspirational to hear about how his relationship with his wife and himself changed through movement therapy.

[@karissalange5838]

" Shared rhythm and movements foster connect, group cohesion, and community". This state I feeling really encompasses the idea of kinesthetic empathy as it shows how simply we can communicate and empathize with others through a common rhythm or movement

[@mitchellnguyen3115]

I like how she brought the idea that Kinesthetic Energy is the guide to building trust between people. The idea of attuning to the client really helps the client connect with the Dance Movement Therapist and see that they are able to understand how they are feeling.

[@WeAreComingHome]

I appreciate that you presented the idea of kinesthetic empathy as having the potential to be more than just a stand alone component of D/MT, and rather as an underlying way of being ("resonant state") throughout the entire process. I believe that is an incredibly valuable way to approach relationships both therapeutic and beyond.

[@m.sweetnam6883]

I really appreciate you pointing out the "resonant state" and this as a modality not just a component in dance/movement therapy. I agree that this form of relationship would benefit us in many aspects of life, and certainly foster better understanding.

[@ethantaylor5234]

I think it is really cool how Dance/movement therapists have mastered the art of matching an individual's tone, energy, and overall body rhythm. Danielle does a wonderful job of explaining how these things are the cornerstone of DMT and why kinesthetic empathy is so vital to the practice. Excellent talk.

[@chloedruckrey779]

I agree with all of this. She does an amazing job at explaining how DMT and kinesthetic empathy works.

[@ryancargie207]

From the beginning of the video you can see all the joy from the audience and that is just from them listening to the music and clapping along with the beat. From everyone moving together and sharing movements it can really help people not feel isolated and alone. I think it is great that you are bringing back principles from indigenous traditions and creating an open community. It allows people to open up and allow people to be vulnerable and open up to treatment.

[@juliussengnouanchanh7796]

Immediately, what stood out to me was Dr. Frankels fun and uplifting introduction. She intensified her happy facial expression and danced with strong and unbounded movement. Then, inevitably, the crowd mirrored her or moved in an upbeat way like she was doing. This shows the impact dance/therapy movement can have on emotions because it can tune into others and help them flow with their emotions and body. We she started talking about Paul, I noticed that he moved with sustained and direct effort which signified that he was uncomfortable and shy. She introduced him to dance movement skills grounded in natural movement, in which was supposed to help him connect with himself an emphasize with others.

[@adyashamishra852]

This is so interesting! I am very new to this topic, and it is so cool to see how DMT is different than just 'dancing'.

[@TheBesttify]

I really enjoyed the beginning of the video, where she just came out and started dancing! It was refreshing in a way. Paul's story was very admirable. Instead of giving up, Paul sought for help (in this case, movement therapy) and I found that very motivational. It's even more impressive that he grew an alliance with himself and found ways to express himself in the end. Thank you for sharing such a great speech!

[@elisakeefner6616]

I also really enjoyed the beginning because it's so refreshing compared to other introductions in videos. With Paul's story it is truly remarkable how he was able to find himself and become more confident in expressing himself from just moving and moving with others.

[@elisakeefner6616]

It's so interesting to see how a relationship can be formed just from moving together, and how movement can be an anchor to calm yourself from anxiety. To be able to tell when human-to-human empathy is reached is so intriguing, and it's a skill I'd like to be able to recognize in others.

[@m.sweetnam6883]

This talk helped me understand more deeply the importance of attunement. And how dance movement therapists can really use body language and attunement to body language/kinesthetic empathy to meet people where they are at.

[@christianzamorano5149]

Native Americans have understood for hundreds and hundreds of years that a connection is made between people when they are moving to the same rhythm and beat. It is good to see that the rest of us are finally catching on to this and that we are starting to use it in ways that can heal people. It is also nice to see that people like Paul are willing to try new things such as dance therapy. It is interesting to see people who are typically shy and introverted step out of their comfort zone and into something like dance therapy. This is how I felt when I took Dance 373 at Long Beach. I was very nervous to be dancing around and doing new movements with people that I had never met before and possibly embarrassing myself in front of all of them. It was an experience that I am glad I was able to be a part of and one that I will not take for granted.

[@jakegarvey9751]

I found it interesting when you talked about connecting one's movements to their spirit/ consciousness. This is a take on DMT that I haven't seen much about. Great talk.

[@jordandahlhauser3294]

I liked this part of the talk as well. I think in Paul's case, by being connected to his spirit, he was better able to connect to his wife.

[@kylierobinson2449]

I feel that this video laid out a clear example on how dance/movement therapy can reflect empathy that will then hopefully resonant into clients' every day life. I liked her explanation on how dance/movement therapists leverage relational energy, which can then relate to relationships outside of sessions. This rang true for Paul and is wife who were having marital problems. This speaker also did a good job starting out the discussion with exemplifying the power of rhythm and movements and how the whole room came together as a whole and were connected for the time being. Overall, this was a good video with a helpful demonstration.

[@abigailcarey6522]

Great talk. I have really picked up on the idea of reflecting the movements or attitudes of the client. It might not always be appropriate to mirror the client's movements, but reflecting the movement style or patterns of the client can be really effective. The story with Paul was really eye-opening. Dr. Danielle did a great job of matching his nonverbals.

[@hiyabiswas8512]

Very nice ..i am touched with the video .

[@beccaformella5659]

Very insightful and wonderful testimony. Amazing to hear how the coping mechanisms and walls that people build in their day-to-day lives can slowly be transformed and overcome. I love how Dr. Fraenkel was able to share how moving together and mirroring allows people the comfort to get over these obstacles and make progress in a therapy session.

[@abigailanderson7894]

it was so informative. I wonder if this is also used in rehabilitation facilities

[@lulandgracie]

Dani, I really enjoyed this. You were so clear, articulate and well paced. Starting out with sharing the beat and then illustrating with the case study made things crystal clear. Bravo.

[@jakegarvey9751]

I agree, the presentation was very clear and easy to follow. Thanks

[@ally30lam]

After listening to how movement therapy helped Paul with his relationship, I found it fascinating how movement can impact someone's relationship with their loved one. It was brave of Paul for wanting to try dance therapy for his marriage because it must've been hard to get out of his comfort zone. He was depressed, yet he sought help when he was going to lose someone important to him. This taught me how nonverbal connection is very important in honing a relationship. His wife is a dancer and he wasn't, but he tried to follow her beat to reach her heart. It was really cool to hear how the beat of any human being can connect them together if they are following the same beat. I would have never believed that people can become more empathetic towards one another with subtle movements until I learned more about it in my nonverbal class. It's interesting to understand the concept of how people can heal from their inner struggles by combining verbal and kinetic therapy.

[@renakornblum9536]

Great job Dani. I really enjoyed this and will have my dance therapy students watch this next semester to help them understand the importance and role of attuning kinesthetically.

[@antares8341]

Sisgzfti d im

[@kimrobles6063]

Hello Dani, I loved this video. I am sharing it to the clinical team where I will be starting a DMT Group for individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

[@noelfarmer3840]

Hi Dani! I absolutely loved how you showed how moving together creates a certain response. The interactive portion at the beginning of the video was a great way to demonstrate first hand how this truly works. I really had no idea what Kinesthetic empathy was before this video so this was really helpful to me in understanding more about DMT.

[@abigailanderson7894]

it was a wonderful incorporation in the speech, i agree!

[@misakawamitsu1534]

I enjoyed how informative this video was. It helps me understand the basic idea of why dance therapy has such a great impact on people and their health: physical, emotional, and mental

[@marleehalbach4643]

I agree with this. So many different types of DMT have such an impact on many people's lives, and it is very interesting to hear all about them through the many examples and numerous types.

[@Shheeiillaa]

The video highlights the individuals utilizing kinesics, such as moving synchronously and attuning to someone's demeanor and non-verbal expressions. It demonstrates how being attuned to kinesics can significantly enhance one's ability to interpret and respond to nonverbal communication effectively in themselves or others. The video encourages active observation and listening as essential elements of attuning to kinesics. It also proves how kinesthetic empathy opens the door to a trusting relationship with others and helps progress the movement, allowing feelings to surface that they might be ignoring-further building trust between the therapist and client.

[@julesredlinger8199]

Moving to the same beat and music has always been something that I've seen people enjoy. To hear that it is essentially the backbone of Dance/Movement therapy makes a lot of sense to me. The connection between people due to the music and rhythm is very powerful and enjoyable to many people, though Paul finding that difficult is not hard to imagine either.

[@justinmagnus8567]

Moving to the same beat and music is also something very easy to do that tons of people do to energize crowds. I just imagine performing "build me up buttercup" at UW Madison football games. By singing and dancing to the song together a strong connection is formed among everyone there.

[@VietnamDanceMovementTherapy79]

we are so happy that finally we can dance with you in Hanoi , VIeetnam

[@jamesarndt3008]

Kinesthetic empathy is very interesting to think about. Being able to attune and sometimes match someone else's movements builds a connection between people. This connection builds trust, empathy, and understanding. Being able to make use of kinesthetic empathy is what helps people to feel seen and understood.

[@karinanaze1888]

When high-intensity emotions arise in clients, as they often due when prompted through creative exercises, it is crucial for the dance/movement therapist to be kinesthetically attuned to the client. I think anyone who works with people can take away something useful from this talk to apply in their approach to connecting with others. I like Dr. Fraenkel's comment on how dance/movement therapists should equip clients with skills to return to as anchors.

[@ellaredmore9016]

Attuning to the client's body posture and kinesthetic energy to make them more comfortable is very interesting to me. If by matching the energy, they create a more comfortable environment, this could be used in all types of therapy, not just those involving movement.

[@loosenut23]

Any way you could repost this with the sound levels increased? It's really quiet.

[@jamesarndt3008]

The idea that to connect with someone, you should match their energy level/ body movement seems almost intuitive to me. This video shows one way in which it is useful, but I believe it's useful in almost any situation dealing with people, maybe not too this extent, but useful nonetheless

[@astridmccormick2190]

surprising how uncomfortable the presenter was, when clapping on coming to stage.