Let’s get one thing straight (lol jk, never): trauma lives in the body—and queer bodies have been through it. In this raw and real episode of My Therapist is Out!, Renae Johnson (they/them) and Kristen Crowe (she/they) break down how Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) helps us reclaim what the world tried to take from us: our bodies, our joy, our right to feel safe in our skin.
Forget sitting still on a couch trying to intellectualize pain you’ve been surviving for decades. We’re talking breath, sweat, shaking it out, and finding healing through movement—because sometimes, words aren’t enough.
💥 We get into: ⚡ Why trauma doesn’t just “live in your head” 🖤 Queer embodiment as resistance 🔥 What happens when you stop performing and start feeling 🛑 How DMT interrupts the constant internalized “shut up and sit still” 🕺🏽 Moving through gender, grief, and rage—on your own terms 💀 How healing can look like sweat, laughter, and getting weird 🌈 Why your body isn’t broken—it’s brilliant
If you’ve ever felt like traditional therapy missed the mark or pathologized your pain, this one’s for you. We’re ditching respectability and making space for the messy, beautiful, embodied truth.
🎧 Tune in. Let it move you.
Takeaways
Dance movement therapy promotes emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration.
Movement can help individuals process and integrate trauma.
Consent is crucial in body-focused therapies.
Body awareness is often the first step in healing.
Trauma can manifest in physical symptoms and body tension.
Therapists should work at the client's pace to avoid dysregulation.
Healing involves recognizing and shifting body posture and breath.
Dance movement therapy can empower clients to set boundaries.
Therapeutic techniques should be spaced over time for effective integration.
Self-expression through movement can be a powerful tool for healing.
Queer Moment of Joy Guests: Joe Fierke he/him @gayforgood, Anais Plasketes
Therapist Bio :
Kristen Crowe LPCC, BC-DMT (they/them) Is Licensed Therapist, Dance Therapist, and Clinical Supervisor with Open Space Therapy Collective. Kristen specializes in working somatically with adults and partners to help heal the mind-body connection so you can feel more grounded and vibrant every day.
Host Bio:
Renae Johnson, LPCC, ATR-BC (they/them) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board-Certified Art Therapist, and the Founder of Open Space Therapy Collective, a group practice offering affirming, justice-driven mental health care for the LGBTQ+ community. With clinical expertise in complex trauma, identity development, and creative expression, Renae blends therapeutic depth with a commitment to equity and inclusion.
In addition to their clinical work, Renae produces community wellness events like Queerly Connected and is a founding member of the LA Queer Events Coalition, creating spaces where queer and trans people can gather, heal, and celebrate.
As a speaker, consultant, and activist, Renae is passionate about building systems of care that honor the full humanity of queer and trans individuals—and equipping providers with the tools to do the same.
To find more from us visit:
Website: https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com
Instagram: @openspacetherapycollective
TikTok: @openspacetherapy
Spotify: @MyTherapistisOut
Apple Podcasts: @mytherapistisout
YouTube: @openspacetherapycollective
Keywords: dance movement therapy, trauma therapy, somatic work, body awareness, emotional integration, consent in therapy, healing through movement, queer and trans therapy, therapeutic techniques, body-mind connection