Psychotherapist Bui Tuyet Minh: "Your body is your first peaceful home."

Bui Tuyet Minh is a pioneer in introducing dance therapy to Vietnam for psychological treatment of vulnerable groups such as autistic children, elderly people with dementia, people with disabilities, and women who have experienced domestic violence, aiming to increase self-confidence in communication and help them find meaning in life.

Currently, she lives and works in the United States as a dance/movement therapist. Simultaneously, she runs a dance/movement therapy organization in Vietnam. The organization primarily provides individual therapy sessions, teaches short courses in dance/movement therapy, and runs community mental health projects.

"Healing is a journey. There are many talented and ethical therapists. However, you are always your own best teacher and therapist when you practice listening to and observing your body to enrich your sensitivity and intuition. With dance therapy, I always believe that learning dance is learning to be human, learning to live mindfully to observe and connect with the source of love and wisdom of the body (bodifulness). From there, you cultivate altruism and empathy for yourself and others. In this ever-changing world, there is no place like home to find peace. And your body is your first peaceful home," shared psychotherapist Bui Tuyet Minh.

Reporter (R): How did you get started with dance/movement therapy?

Bui Tuyet Minh:My journey into dance/movement therapy began during my self-discovery through art. Ten years ago, I was a teacher and art development coordinator at an international school in Hanoi, while also working as an educational manager and instructor at the Sol Art and Life Art organizations.

My students are very diverse, and I've realized that dance/movement is a fundamental need for everyone. Dance/movement can help people express emotions that are difficult for spoken language to convey. I've experienced internal changes within myself. Every direction, rhythm, space, and gravity in each body movement directly impacts attitudes, emotions, and ways of thinking.

Moving or dancing in sync with the group helps me escape isolation, creating a sense of comfort and a resonance of collective energy. Meanwhile, natural movements driven by emotions and imagination from within each individual help me recognize and trust my inner urges and intuition. All the repressed feelings, memories, and emotions buried within my body, stemming from my own despair, are expressed through movements, whether conscious or unconscious, leading to a profound shift in perception. I have always felt closer, more authentic, and more "loved" when I "live" and empathize with my students through body language and co-creation.

With over 10 years of experience in education, I've always believed that a true teacher possesses the ethics, character, and knowledge of an educator, therapist, and spiritual guide. These qualities not only awaken joy in creativity and learning but also heal and empower each student. With this belief, I researched and worked hard to earn a scholarship to complete a two-year master's program in dance/movement therapy at Sarah Lawrence University in New York.

The curriculum, with its knowledge of the body, neuroscience, psychology, culture, and especially the art of dance and movement for healing body, mind, and spirit, has helped me fulfill my journey of exploring the vast world from within my own body – the boundless universe within myself.

Interviewer: In your opinion, what is dance therapy? When should people seek dance therapy? Are there any limitations on who can participate in this discipline?

Bui Tuyet Minh:Dance therapy is a form of psychotherapy that combines science and the art of dance/movement as a means of connection and self-support. Its aim is to promote equal dialogue, connection, empathy, self-awareness, and holistic development of body, mind, and spirit. In addition to its application in psychotherapy for individuals with special needs (autism spectrum disorder, dementia, trauma, etc.), dance/movement therapy is also used as a stress reduction therapy, disease prevention therapy, and emotional management therapy.

Dance/movement therapy can be effectively applied to individuals, groups, couples, families, infants, people with disabilities, teenagers, the elderly... and everyone who is still breathing (laughs).

PV: How exactly do you help the participants in your dance therapy course relieve stress?

Bui Tuyet Minh:The courses organized by Vietnam Dance/Movement Therapy are basic courses that provide foundational knowledge so that students can apply some basic principles, skills, and methods in self-care as well as in their professional and personal development.

If someone is suffering from depression, mood disorders, or other psychological problems, we will conduct a mental health assessment questionnaire and physical exercises to evaluate their flexibility. Based on this, we will develop an individualized psychological therapy plan lasting at least three months.

PV: As a pioneer of dance/movement therapy in Vietnam, what challenges have you faced on your journey in dance therapy?

Bui Tuyet Minh:Ten years ago, when I first explored this field, I had no one to advise me because it was so new. Dance/movement is a process of self-experience, so words alone are insufficient to express it. When answering scholarship interview questions, I naturally asked the entire judging panel to close their eyes: to feel their breath, to connect deeply with their bodies and move according to my instructions, and all three judges did as I said. That's how I convinced the judges to understand and award me the scholarship.

Many people ask, "What is dance therapy? Can you dance for us? Or teach us a few dance steps?" I smile and say, "No, on the contrary, you are the dancer and I just sit and listen/observe." People often mistakenly think dance therapy is the name of a type of dance, but that's not actually the case. Dance therapy uses dance/body movement as a primary tool in the psychological therapy process.

It can be explained like this: A dance therapist doesn't teach you dance techniques, but rather guides you through questions, suggestions, companionship, and dialogue using body language, rhythms, spaces, and tempos that are appropriate to your physical condition, cultural background, and religious beliefs (if any). This helps you to observe and express difficult emotions that you are unable to confront on your own. A dance therapist always encourages each individual to find faith in themselves, in their inner strength, and in their body's ability to heal itself.

PV: Many people believe that dance therapy is a way to heal the body, mind, and spirit. What are your thoughts on this opinion?

Bui Tuyet Minh:You asked me about therapeutic dance (in Vietnamese, it's called therapeutic dance, and in English, Therapuetic Dance). But what I'm doing and introducing to you is dance therapy (in Vietnamese, it's psychological therapy using dance, and in English, it's Dance therapy). Therapeutic dance and dance therapy are two completely different concepts in terms of purpose and nature. According to Barbara Mettler, "Creative Dance Art or Therapy?", Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association, 1990, the core purpose of any art form, especially dance, is to bring joy in creation and a feeling of comfort and relaxation afterward. This is the meaning of the aesthetic experience.

The fundamental purpose of dance is to provide an experience of beauty and aesthetics, and indirectly, dance/movement can bring other positive values ​​(such as expression, relaxation, improved physical and mental health...). You can learn to dance from friends, teachers, or by yourself on YouTube.

We must recognize the difference between aesthetic and practical purposes. Dance therapy has a practical purpose. The ultimate goal of dance therapy is to heal physical and mental trauma. Dance therapy is a therapeutic method that combines psychological science and the art of dance with a practical purpose, a specific and long-term treatment plan to help clients overcome psychological traumas that they are unable to overcome on their own.

Dance therapy is a humane and holistic psychological therapy that addresses both body, mind, and spirit. To achieve this practical therapeutic goal, you will work with a dance/movement therapist who is a professional and has completed at least a Master's degree in dance therapy.

Currently, in Vietnam and many other developing countries, dance/movement therapy is still a new concept, and there is no governing or training association for this field. Therefore, I have been participating in exchanges, learning, and research to improve my expertise and adhere to professional ethics standards at the American Dance Therapy Association since 2013.

PV: Thank you very much, Ms. Tuyet Minh!

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao