Remaining held: dance/movement therapy with children during lockdown

In this article, we will try to creatively expand the boundaries of our imagination, in an attempt to recognise the potential transitional space in remote dance/movement therapy (DMT) work with children that occurs from ‘afar’ in digital space due to the current global COVID19 pandemic. We propose that an observing arena via the digital screen offers a framework that acts as a playground, in which the client can hide, attack, get close, back off, and so on, despite the lack of an actual in-person meeting. Special emphasis will be placed on the kinaesthetic and sensory playfulness, which develops between therapist and client despite the physical distance, and on the understanding of the psychodynamic meanings within the therapy sessions. We will present two case studies that will demonstrate the scope of the psychodynamic work through the body, which is possible in remote dance/movement therapy.