Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Embodying The Spiral: A Critical Framework For Returning To The Body Through Dance/Movement Therapy, Lilah Van Rens

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Spirals are fundamental to human existence–present in natural geological forms, skeletal and muscular pathways, and developmental patterns. Characteristics of the spiral in relation to the body include: spatiotemporal nonlinearity, the embracing of polarities and dismantling of binaries, grounded curiosity, “contra-lateral connectivity” and multidimensional integration and transformation. Nonlinear and spiralic temporality have been continually embodied, recorded, and practiced transgenerationally in Black, Indigenous, and queer communities as a form of resurgence, resistance, self-expression, building community and being in the world. How can embodying the spiral be a radical resistance to systems of oppression that continually isolate and disconnect people from one another …

Boys Don't Cry: Dance/Movement Therapy As Effective Treatment For Men Who Adhere To Traditional Western Masculinity Ideology, Carter Turrell-Celente

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Traditional Western masculinity ideology, which is adhered to mostly by white men (Levant & Pryor, 2020, p. 12), is the dominant construct of masculinity in the United States that influences expectations of behavior among males (American Psychological Association, 2018; Levant & Richmond, 2016). Men who adhere strictly to traditional Western masculinity ideology may find their lives negatively affected by their behavior related to socialized gender norms. Seeking help for mental health challenges goes against traditional Western masculinity ideology, as does emotional expression, which makes these men especially vulnerable to the negative effects of poor mental health. Dance/movement therapy is an …

To Dance Or Not To Dance? A Dancer's Journey To Becoming A Movement Therapist, Madilyn Erber

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This thesis explores the impact of the word dance on people’s idea of what dance/movement therapy is. Dance/movement therapy was created by dancers who realized that dance had the ability to be therapeutic. In the 1940s in the United States, when dance/movement therapy was established, dance was not what it is today. Dance has expanded and is now seen in competitions, television/movies, and social media, which places a strong emphasis on the validation from others. The author aims to look at this shift in dance and how ideas present within dance do not align with the focus of dance/movement therapy. …

Embodying Bicultural Resistance And Liberation: Transformative Multicultural Approaches To Dance/Movement Therapy, Grace Castillo

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Bicultural individuals often navigate complex cultural landscapes that shape their identities, experiences, and psychological well-being. This thesis explores the embodiment of culture and the influential dynamics on bicultural identity, molding both the perception and expression of the self. By integrating the frameworks of liberation psychology, body story, embodied activism, and liberating movement, dance/movement therapy offers a multicultural-competent approach for addressing the complexities of bicultural identity. This integration enhances the therapeutic process by aligning with the social justice goals of the field, facilitating transformative restoration from oppression through personal and cultural narratives of individuals. Furthermore, this approach empowers those marginalized within …

Rhythmically Rooted: Exploring The Role Of Rhythmic Identity In Dance/Movement Therapy, Christina Maerlender

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Abstract

Historically, in psychology, identity has been defined in Eurocentric, individualist ways. Freud and Erickson’s ideas have influenced how the West views identity development. In recent years, there has been a significant shift in perspectives within psychology, sociology, and philosophy regarding identity development (Caldwell, 2016). Contemporary understandings emphasize identity's dynamic, culturally embedded, and multifaceted nature. Building on the ideas expressed by Caldwell (2016) and the conceptualization of rhythm as an inherently embodied phenomenon, the exploration of identity through rhythm emerges as a means to incorporate the Self's evolving experiences while reflecting the dynamic, culturally embedded, and multifaceted nature of identity. …