More Than Monsters Under the Bed: Empowering Anxious Children Through Dance/Movement Therapy

Childhood anxiety is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health concerns among youth, with symptoms often emerging as early as preschool. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated mental health concerns in children. Contributing factors such as increased exposure to social media, disconnection from peers, and rapid changes in daily routines have intensified children’s emotional challenges. This thesis explores Dance/Movement Therapy as a nonverbal, body-based modality uniquely suited to support anxious children. Children often explore the world through physical movement like walking, running, and playing. Their emotions such as joy, fear, or anger are also expressed through their bodies. Dance/movement therapy offers physical interventions for children using its unique characteristics to identify, validate, and help children cope with the effects of anxiety.