Dance/Movement Therapy in Chicago
When words aren’t enough, your body still remembers — and it can help you heal.
At Balanced Awakening in Chicago, dance/movement therapy gives you a holistic way to process trauma, chronic stress, and burnout by including your body in the therapeutic process.
With Isa Mulcahy, LCPC, R-DMT, you don’t have to be “good at dance” or even like the word dance to benefit. Sessions are gentle, collaborative, and adapted to your comfort level.
Especially welcoming to women and nonbinary adults
Focus on trauma, PTSD, chronic stress, burnout, and cultural/societal stress
In-person in Lakeview & Lincoln Park, and virtual across Illinois
Evening & weekend appointments available
Therapy available in English and Spanish
Meet Our Dance/Movement Therapist in Chicago
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![Portrait of a smiling woman with multiple facial piercings, dark hair, and wearing a lavender blouse with a bow at the collar]()
Isa Mulcahy, LCPC, R-DMT
What Is Dance/Movement Therapy?
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is a form of psychotherapy that uses movement, body awareness, and nonverbal expression as pathways to emotional healing.
Instead of relying only on talking, we also pay attention to:
How your body holds tension, numbness, or activation
The way you posture, gesture, and breathe when certain emotions arise
Small, gentle movements that help shift what feels “stuck”
You might:
Notice your breath while telling a difficult story
Explore simple movements that express anger, grief, or relief
Practice grounding exercises that help you return to your body when you feel overwhelmed
You’re never asked to perform, look a certain way, or “do a routine.” Movement can be as small as shifting your weight, stretching your hands, or focusing on your breath.
How Dance/Movement Therapy Helps with Trauma, PTSD & Chronic Stress
Many people notice that trauma and chronic stress don’t just live in their thoughts — they show up in the body as:
Tightness in the chest or throat
Stomach knots or nausea
Headaches or jaw clenching
Feeling constantly “on edge,” jumpy, or exhausted
Numbness, disconnection, or feeling like you’re not really here
For trauma, PTSD, and long-term stress, it’s common to not have words for what happened or how it feels. Your body may hold the memory more clearly than your mind does.
Dance/movement therapy helps you:
Process trauma stored in the body, gently and at your pace
Learn regulation skills for anxiety, panic, and overwhelm
Build a kinder, safer relationship with your body
Release tension, bracing, or collapse patterns that developed to help you survive
Create new, embodied experiences of safety, strength, and joy
This work can be especially powerful if you’re navigating:
Complex trauma or PTSD
Chronic stress and burnout (work, caregiving, activism, or “always-on” pressure)
Anxiety, panic, and intrusive thoughts
Depression and emotional numbness
Ongoing cultural or societal stress, including feeling unsafe, unseen, or targeted
Isa’s Approach: Humanistic, Somatic & Expressive Arts
Isa is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT). Her style is warm, collaborative, and deeply humanistic — she sees you as a whole person, not a diagnosis.
She integrates three main modalities in her work:
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) & Skill-Building
DBT helps you hold two truths at once — for example, “I’m doing the best I can” and “I want things to change.” With Isa, DBT looks like:
Emotional regulation skills to help you ride intense feelings without shutting down or exploding
Distress tolerance tools so you can get through tough moments safely
Mindfulness practices that keep you anchored in the present
These skills pair beautifully with somatic and movement work, so you feel more resourced as you explore deeper material.
Narrative Therapy & Jungian Archetypes
Isa also uses narrative therapy to help you become the author of your own story, rather than feeling stuck inside a story written by trauma, oppression, or past relationships.
Sometimes she draws on Carl Jung’s archetypes — universal patterns like the Mother, the Healer, the Warrior, or the Lover — to explore:
The “light” and “shadow” sides of your experience
How you’ve learned to survive, and how you might want to grow
New ways of seeing yourself with compassion and curiosity
Writing, journaling, and creative imagery can all be part of this process.
Somatic Integration, Tai Chi, Qigong & Mindfulness
As a dance/movement therapist, Isa integrates:
Somatic awareness (listening to your body’s signals)
Breathwork and grounding
Gentle movement and stretching
Elements of Tai Chi and Qigong for those who are interested
These practices are always adjusted to your comfort, body, and mobility. You never have to move in a way that feels unsafe or inaccessible.
Culturally-Responsive, Bilingual Support
Isa brings a multicultural, trauma-informed lens to her work. She is bilingual (English/Spanish) and especially attuned to:
The stress of navigating multiple cultures and identities
Fears about safety, belonging, and community
The emotional weight of discrimination, immigration stress, and systemic injustice
You’re welcome to bring your full story — including cultural, spiritual, and family layers — into the room.
Isa’s Background in Dance/Movement Therapy
Before joining Balanced Awakening, Isa spent several years as a dance/movement therapist at the VA in Chicago, where she facilitated a community reintegration program called “Stepping Into Wellness.” In this program, Isa used movement and a Chicago-born social dance style known as stepping to help veterans reconnect with themselves, rebuild confidence, and form healthy community relationships.
She is featured in this video alongside two other dance/movement therapists discussing how DMT supports healing for both individuals and groups.
This work continues to influence Isa’s approach today — honoring the therapeutic power of culture, rhythm, community, and accessible movement.
Her commitment to culturally grounded, expressive, and accessible healing also appears in her published work. Isa has written two pieces in Contratiempo Magazine (Spanish-language):
These writings reflect Isa’s belief that creativity, movement, and culture are vital pathways to healing — a philosophy woven throughout her work at Balanced Awakening.
What Sessions Look Like (In-Person in Lakeview & Lincoln Park + Telehealth)
Dance/movement therapy with Isa is integrated into individual talk therapy — so sessions can include both traditional conversation and body-based work.
Your First Sessions
In early sessions, you can expect to:
Share what brings you in and what you’re hoping for
Talk about your history with therapy, movement, and your body
Discuss any injuries, pain, or accessibility needs
Set goals together, including how much (or how little) movement feels right for you
You are always in charge of your pace. If you prefer mostly talking at first, that’s completely okay.
In-Person Sessions
In-person sessions are available at our Lakeview and Lincoln Park locations. Sessions may include:
Sitting and talking, just like “regular” therapy
Gentle grounding exercises (breath, posture, sensation)
Simple movements — standing, stretching, walking, or small gestures
Creative, expressive elements (music, imagery, journaling, or art)
You can wear comfortable everyday clothes; you don’t need special dancewear.
Telehealth Sessions
For virtual sessions across Illinois, Isa adapts dance/movement therapy so you can:
Use simple seated or standing movements within your own space
Practice grounding, breathwork, and somatic awareness on-screen
Explore narrative and archetype work in combination with body cues
Many clients appreciate the privacy of processing from home while still working deeply with their body.
Who Dance/Movement Therapy Is For at Balanced Awakening
Dance/movement therapy with Isa may be a good fit if you’re an adult (18+) dealing with:
Trauma & PTSD (including complex or developmental trauma)
Chronic stress or burnout from work, caregiving, or activism
Anxiety, panic, or feeling “on edge” all the time
Depression, emotional numbness, or feeling disconnected from your body
Cultural, identity, or immigration-related stress
Trouble relaxing, sleeping, or turning off your mind
Feeling like you’ve “talked about it” in therapy before but still feel stuck in your body
This page is focused on individual adult therapy, not pediatric or family services.
Mind-Body Medicine Skills Group (January 2026)
Facilitated by Isa Mulcahy, LCPC
Saturdays, 9:00–11:00 AM • January 17 – February 21, 2026
In-person at Balanced Awakening – Lakeview
4043 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago
Cost: $395 due at sign-up
Our Mind-Body Medicine Skills Group is a six-week experiential journey designed to help you reconnect with your body’s innate wisdom, regulate your nervous system, and build emotional resilience through expressive, mindful practices.
This group blends evidence-based mind-body approaches, gentle movement, expressive arts, and guided meditation to support your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. It’s a safe, supportive space for adults who want to explore healing in community — without any need for dance experience or artistic “skill.”
You’ll engage in practices such as meditation, guided imagery, movement, breathing, drawing, and reflective writing — all within a nurturing, small-group setting led by Isa Mulcahy, LCPC, R-DMT.
What You’ll Experience
Each week includes both education and hands-on practice, helping you learn how to:
Create positive shifts in your physiology and psychology using mind-body tools
Express and release emotions through drawing, writing, and gentle movement
Access inner wisdom, strength, and clarity through imagery and creative exploration
Identify family and relational patterns using genograms
Integrate mindfulness and expressive arts into daily life for lasting well-being
These sessions support nervous system regulation, emotional clarity, and a renewed sense of connection — to yourself, your story, and your body.
Weekly Themes
Week 1 — Introduction to Mind-Body Medicine
Holistic health foundations, expressive arts, and self-expression through drawing
Week 2 — Mindful Awareness & Meditation
Power of the Mind: Relaxing and Healing
Week 3 — Guided Imagery
Exploring your inner landscape through visualization and imagination
Week 4 — Exploring & Transforming Emotions
Writing and imagery as pathways to insight and emotional release
Week 5 — Genograms & Relationships
Understanding family, friendship, and community patterns
Week 6 — Closing Ceremony & Integration
Rituals, reflection, and honoring your personal growth
Who This Group Is For
This group is ideal for adults who are:
Seeking holistic ways to manage stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm
Interested in connecting more deeply with their body, intuition, and creative self
Wanting to complement talk therapy with experiential mind-body practices
Open to personal growth through mindfulness, imagery, and expressive arts
No movement, art, or meditation experience is required — just curiosity and a willingness to explore.
Why Join
By the end of the six weeks, you’ll leave with:
Practical tools for self-regulation and resilience
Greater emotional clarity and self-understanding
A deeper sense of connection to your body and inner wisdom
Practices you can continue using long after the group ends
This group is a meaningful way to step into the new year with intention, grounding, and support.
How to Register
To reserve your spot, click below to visit our group therapy page and fill out the sign up form!
Dance/Movement Therapy FAQs
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No. Absolutely not. You do not need to be a dancer, coordinated, flexible, or “creative.” Movement can be as simple as shifting your posture or noticing your breath. The goal isn’t performance — it’s healing and connection.
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That’s extremely common and welcome in the room. You and Isa will move at a pace that respects your comfort and boundaries. You can start with very small, subtle movements or even just noticing body sensations without moving at all.
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Nope! Sessions are a blend of talk therapy and body-based work. Some sessions might be mostly talking; others might include a bit more movement or creative exploration. You and Isa decide together what feels right each time you meet.
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Yes. Movement is always adapted to your body. This could mean seated movement, micro-movements of the hands or face, or simply focusing on breath and internal sensation. You never have to do anything that hurts or feels unsafe.
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Our therapy rate for the first two sessions is $250. After that, 55-minute sessions are $225.
Most of our therapists — including Isa — are in network with BCBS PPO and Aetna. If you have a different insurance plan, we’re happy to provide superbills you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Clients can also use HSA/FSA funds for therapy.
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Yes. Isa offers telehealth sessions across Illinois, and she adjusts the movement and somatic practices so they fit your space and comfort level at home.
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Yes. Isa is bilingual (English/Spanish) and can offer therapy in the language that feels most natural or supportive for you. You’re welcome to switch between languages as needed.
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Absolutely. Dance/movement therapy with Isa is always collaborative. Some sessions may involve more talking, and others may include gentle movement or grounding work. You’ll never be pushed to do anything that feels uncomfortable — your preferences guide the pace.
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Anything comfortable that allows you to breathe and move naturally. You don’t need athletic wear or dance clothing. Many clients come in regular everyday clothes and adjust as needed.
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Sometimes — if you want to. Isa draws from expressive arts (like imagery, journaling, drawing, music, or creative movement) to help deepen insight and emotional exploration. You can always opt in or out.
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Dance/movement therapy is a clinical psychotherapy approach — not a performance, fitness, or dance class. The focus is on emotional healing, self-awareness, trauma processing, and regulating the nervous system, not on learning steps or routines
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Yes. Movement therapy can be especially helpful for clients who feel numb, detached, or “far away” from their bodies due to trauma. Isa uses grounding techniques, titration, and very gentle somatic work to help you reconnect safely and slowly.
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Yes — that’s one of its strengths. If finding words is hard (whether from trauma, overwhelm, shame, or cultural stress), movement and imagery often give you alternative pathways to express and understand your experience.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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During our first session Hannah was proactive in creating a plan of action to properly diagnose me and address my concerns. Detailed. Office is beautiful. Love the decor, relaxing ambiance and free tea.
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She was very kind and thorough during intake and the entire office looks like something out of a lifestyle magazine.
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The office is lovely and welcoming, the in-take paperwork helped me prepare for what I wanted to talk about and gave me a starting point.
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Dr. Yang is warm and empathic, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
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Emma has been very supportive through major life changes for me. Her sweet and gentle nature made it easy for me to feel safe to open up to her. I am very grateful for her support and kindness.
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It was my first visit and she made me feel so safe. I opened up right away!
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Begin Dance/ Movement Therapy with Isa
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or weighed down by trauma or chronic stress, you don’t have to navigate it alone. With Isa, therapy becomes a gentle space to reconnect with your body, reshape your story, and build lasting emotional resilience.
Isa offers in-person sessions in Lakeview and Lincoln Park, as well as virtual therapy across Illinois. Evening and weekend appointments are available.