Movement for Emotional Expression and Regulation in Autism

Blog Series: Autism & the Body

Movement for Emotional Expression and Regulation in Autism

People with autism can sometimes find it challenging to find ways to express and regulate emotions. While often overlooked, movement-based therapies like Dance Movement Therapy and Physiotherapy can be transformative. Movement-based therapies allow us to express complex emotions through their bodies, helping us better understand and manage our internal states.

Emotional regulation is critical for everyday functioning, and it’s closely tied to the body. Deliberate exercises, stretches, and movements help individuals become more attuned to how emotions manifest physically, providing a way to understand and release tension, stress, and anxiety. For those accessing NDIS Improved Daily Living funding, our allied health at home services allow these therapies to be integrated into daily routines, helping clients manage emotions in real-time, in familiar environments.

Through movement, we can learn to channel emotions in productive ways, from expressing joy through dance to releasing frustration through structured exercises. As we grow more comfortable using our bodies to communicate, we develop improved emotional resilience and self-control.

In our next post, we’ll dive into how movement also addresses physical concerns like muscle tension, posture, and pain, which are also often overlooked challenges for people with autism.