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Author Bio

Diana Mota is an independent scholar and creative arts psychotherapist. She researches intersections between therapy and performing arts methodologies (especially improvisation), phenomenology, and ontology. Currently, she is studying ontological approaches to teaching leadership. Mota lectured at the Psychology and Educational Sciences Faculty, Coimbra University. She is a clinical supervisor in private practice. Mota encourages her clients’, students’ and supervisees' to engage in self-led processes of expansion, empowerment, and liberation. She holds a degree in Law, a master in Drama and Movement Therapy from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London University, a postgrad in Trauma and Neuroscience in Body Psychotherapy and also specialized in Community Dance. Mota is Vice-President of the Portuguese Dance and Movement Therapy Association.

Keywords

dance therapy, therapeutic relationship, ontological inquiry, authentic listening, somatic countertransference, non-verbal language, verbal language

Abstract

This article explores intersections between dance, psychotherapy, phenomenology, and ontology, addressing how both verbal and non-verbal language enact ways of being in the world. The main aim is to investigate potential contributions of ontological inquiry to the practice of dance psychotherapy, to thereby strengthen the therapeutic relationship. Drawing on her practical experience and theory building in dance and dance therapy, the author presents clinical vignettes from a session as a laboratory to elaborate an ontological-phenomenological model. She concludes by clearly advocating for further exploration of these intersections and argues these fields are mutually enriching and complementary.

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