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Background: The death of a spouse is one of the most stressful life events, often reshaping identity, everyday functioning, and overall quality of life. Although grief is known to manifest profoundly in the body, there is not much research on the use of dance movement therapy (DMT) with bereaved people. This PhD research provides the first empirical insight into how DMT may support widowed adults in integrating grief into their lives.

Objectives: This research aimed to

1. explore the effects of creative arts therapies on the wellbeing of bereaved individuals;
2. assess the role of DMT interventions on body image;
3. examine impacts on identity reconstruction and
4. quality of life; and
5. describe participants’ experiences of DMT.

Methods: The group-based DMT interventions were conducted in 2024–2025 in Turku, Tampere, and Helsinki (Finland) with working-age widowed people (N = 40). The research used mixed methods, including the Body Image interview and pre-/post-intervention self-evaluations.

Results: Preliminary qualitative data suggests that participants experience the intervention as supportive indicating that DMT provides a meaningful way to approach grief. Reported benefits include improved bodily awareness, feelings of connection, and enhanced ability to self-regulate emotions. Ongoing analysis is expected to clarify how DMT influences identity, body image and quality of life.

Conclusion: The study amplifies the voices of bereaved individuals within the field of cultural wellbeing and highlights the potential of creative, embodied practices to support recovery. Findings open new perspectives on how DMT may foster resilience, identity reorientation, and more creative grief cultures.