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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Is It Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?, Ivette Berger Sep 2021

Is It Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?, Ivette Berger

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This is a review of the current literature between the comorbidities and physiological symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specifically in adolescents. The method used by this writer was examining peer- reviewed articles and books focused on PTSD and ADHD. Quantitative and qualitative research was reviewed and used to provide support on the comorbidities between PTSD and ADHD. Lastly, this paper discusses and explores how dance/movement therapy (DMT) should be a treatment option when working with this population since dance/movement therapy uses body observations and assessment tools that aid in diagnosing and treating individuals diagnosed …


Advocating For Neuro-Informed Music Therapy For Ptsd In Diverse Populations, A Literature Review, Shanell A. Percy May 2021

Advocating For Neuro-Informed Music Therapy For Ptsd In Diverse Populations, A Literature Review, Shanell A. Percy

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Research indicates that music positively affects the brain, health, and wellness and continues to be researched for its effectiveness in treating PTSD. Traumatic memories are stored in the brain structures of the limbic system. Music has been shown to affect these brain structures, giving prospect to its use through music psychotherapy interventions as an effective treatment for PTSD. This review of music therapy literature assesses the effects of music on the brain, identifies current models for treating PTSD with music therapy, and considers culturally informed approaches to treatment. A widely known gap in the research of evidenced-based studies of music …


An Integrated Music Therapy Method For Children And Adolescents With Asd And Trauma, Lillian Gray May 2021

An Integrated Music Therapy Method For Children And Adolescents With Asd And Trauma, Lillian Gray

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explored the integration of two theories used in music therapy. A literature review of vocal psychotherapy (VPT) and neurologic music therapy (NMT) was conducted. In the literature reviewed, neither theory alone meets the common needs, I have observed, of children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a known history of, or current trauma experience. The most significant insight gained from the literature reviewed are the different client needs that each theory approaches. Neurologic music therapy (NMT) techniques are implemented to heal the diseased or injured brain. Vocal psychotherapy intervention can heal the injured soul. The …


Somatic Experiencing And Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Autonomic Regulation In Trauma Treatment With Adults: A Literature Review, Daniel J. Patrick May 2021

Somatic Experiencing And Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Autonomic Regulation In Trauma Treatment With Adults: A Literature Review, Daniel J. Patrick

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Autonomic nervous system dysregulation is commonly experienced in adults who have experienced trauma and underlies several symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though established treatments for PTSD have a strong evidence base, they can increase dysregulation during treatment, leading to high drop-out rates. Somatic experiencing (SE) and expressive arts therapy (ExAT) are two emerging methods that support autonomic regulation in trauma treatment. This literature review provides an overview of the use of SE and ExAT in trauma treatment with adults and describes concepts and techniques from SE and ExAT that are used to support regulation during treatment. Several shared concepts …


The Role Of Community In Meaning Making: Storytelling In Expressive Arts Therapy With Narrative And Traumatic Memory In Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault, Jennifer Murphy May 2021

The Role Of Community In Meaning Making: Storytelling In Expressive Arts Therapy With Narrative And Traumatic Memory In Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault, Jennifer Murphy

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review examines the concept of body as home in terms of privilege versus human right. This thesis is a literature review examining the repercussions of the traumatized mind, body, nervous system, memory, and soul. This thesis discusses the literature in five sections, and through them, the urgency of community, of healing relationally is strengthened and suggested for future research and treatment interventions. This capstone thesis discusses the relationship between narrative and traumatic memory in expressive arts therapy and the role of storytelling in making meaning relationally. Meaning-making reorients us to our traumatic memories to reframe them in a …


The Value Of Parental Involvement In Play Therapy With Children Exposed To Trauma: A Literature Review, Kellie Difederico May 2021

The Value Of Parental Involvement In Play Therapy With Children Exposed To Trauma: A Literature Review, Kellie Difederico

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review explores current research focusing on parent, caregiver or guardian involvement in therapy for children exposed to trauma. This research differentiates parent as a safe space, or systemic work with family dynamics, from parent as an important role within the healing process. Current methods inspired from the attachment approach to therapy including trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), filial therapy, child parent psychotherapy (CPP), parent child dyadic art therapy, child parent relationship therapy (CPRT), and child centered play therapy (CCPT) are explored, helping to gain a better understand of both clinical and parental perspectives of parental involvement in therapy. …


Trauma Effects, Empathy, And Dance/Movement Therapy: A Literature Review, Jenna Soldati May 2021

Trauma Effects, Empathy, And Dance/Movement Therapy: A Literature Review, Jenna Soldati

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Trauma exists at many levels, affecting people in various ways biologically and emotionally. Trauma and adverse experiences have been researched, suggesting effects on the whole individual including their psychological, physical, and social wellness (Cristobal, 2018; Greenberg, Baron-Cohen, Rosenberg, Fonagy, & Rentfrow, 2018; Levy, Goldstein, & Feldman, 2019; Olofsson, Iddli, Hoffart, Eielsen, & Vrabel, 2020). Similarly, empathy and empathic behaviors exist on a varying scale as well. Investigating the effects of trauma on empathy, themes of resilience emerge in survivors of trauma and provide insight into alternative healing modalities. Dance/movement therapy and other mindfulness-based treatments provide a method of trauma-informed care …


The Weight Of Trauma: Exploring A New Method In Dance/Movement Therapy For Trauma Processing With Adolescents, Xavia Hawkins May 2021

The Weight Of Trauma: Exploring A New Method In Dance/Movement Therapy For Trauma Processing With Adolescents, Xavia Hawkins

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This author developed a movement-based trauma informed method that implemented symbolic play with sandbag weights with light and dark colored scarves, with adolescents at the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, MA. This thesis was developed to observe how adolescents prioritize the magnitude of their trauma experiences to serve as additional insight towards treatment planning. Over a four-week process, participants created artistic responses to the trauma they identified most prevalent and engaged in symbolic play with different mediums in order to ultimately choose which prop felt most representative to how they viewed their trauma. This movement-based study supports …


Bringing The Body Into Art Therapy: The Use Of Touch And Body Awareness In Creative Healing, Janna Corsetti May 2021

Bringing The Body Into Art Therapy: The Use Of Touch And Body Awareness In Creative Healing, Janna Corsetti

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The focus on the use of healing touch and body awareness in art therapy is critically lacking. Despite the research supporting the use of body-oriented techniques in clinical therapy, there is little research related to this use specifically in art therapy. Research reveals that healing touch and body awareness can be instrumental in healing trauma, if done with the proper training and boundaries in place. The first form of attachment and comfort for children is that of touch. Therefore, it is imperative to acknowledge the power of touch and body awareness when healing from traumatic experiences. The purpose of this …


Self-Compassion Integrated Art Therapy For Mothers During A Pandemic, Shannon Dover May 2021

Self-Compassion Integrated Art Therapy For Mothers During A Pandemic, Shannon Dover

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis reviews literature related to parental mental health and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a collective trauma in which individuals experience the trauma differently depending on race, gender, and class. Women’s experience of living during COVID-19 related to changes in the workplace, caretaking, and more. The pandemic influenced parents and notably mothers with increased stress, depression, grief, and anxiety. The practice of self-compassion reduces shame and self-criticism which are common experiences during parenting and trauma. Self-compassion and art therapy can aid in resiliency and make living during COVID-19 more comfortable. With a literature review, results yield the following …


Exploring Art Therapy Techniques In Parent-Child Dyads With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Yuval Minz May 2021

Exploring Art Therapy Techniques In Parent-Child Dyads With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma, Yuval Minz

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Exposure to trauma during childhood has been shown to have severe long-term consequences. It has been shown that art therapy promotes the reduction of trauma symptoms in children, as it allows them to easily engage in the process of therapy through non-verbal treatment. Involving the caregiver in the treatment process of children was shown to hold significant benefits for children, especially in a setting of parent-child art therapy interventions. In this capstone thesis, I present a case study in which I explored the impact of art therapy interventions performed in a parent-child dyad on the well-being of a child who …


The Weight Of Trauma: Exploring A New Method In Dance/Movement Therapy For Trauma Processing With Adolescents, Xavia Hawkins May 2021

The Weight Of Trauma: Exploring A New Method In Dance/Movement Therapy For Trauma Processing With Adolescents, Xavia Hawkins

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This author developed a movement-based trauma informed method that implemented symbolic play with sandbag weights with light and dark colored scarves, with adolescents at the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, MA. This thesis was developed to observe how adolescents prioritize the magnitude of their trauma experiences to serve as additional insight towards treatment planning. Over a four-week process, participants created artistic responses to the trauma they identified most prevalent and engaged in symbolic play with different mediums in order to ultimately choose which prop felt most representative to how they viewed their trauma. This movement-based study supports …


Exploring Post-Genocide Chinese-Indonesian Identity From The Perspective Of The Secondary Witness: Dance/Movement Therapy Approach, Iyit Benusia May 2021

Exploring Post-Genocide Chinese-Indonesian Identity From The Perspective Of The Secondary Witness: Dance/Movement Therapy Approach, Iyit Benusia

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The Chinese-Indonesian population is a bicultural and biethnic population with an extensive history of racism and discrimination in Indonesia since the colonial era. This situation has caused confusion on their ethnic-racial identity. Ethnic-racial identity is a social construct that defined one's sense of self within society. The lack of sense of self may negatively impact one's perception towards self and others. This project addresses this issue by identifying the current Chinese-Indonesian ethnic-racial identity from the perspective of the secondary witness to the genocide event happening in 1998. The paper will evaluate how the 1998 genocide event has impacted the Chinese-Indonesians' …


How Can The Expressive Arts Therapy Benefit Latinx/Latine Immigrant Families? A Literature, Maria Ticona May 2021

How Can The Expressive Arts Therapy Benefit Latinx/Latine Immigrant Families? A Literature, Maria Ticona

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Although there are many years of research and practice for the fields of family therapy and expressive arts therapy, there have been few times when the two integrated. In this Literature Review, the intersection between expressive arts therapy and family therapy is explored to further envision how it could benefit families who are Latinx/Latine immigrant. These families often experience traumatic poverty and violence in their home countries which leads them to decide to migrate. The journey to migrate to the United States, acculturate to a new culture, a new language, grapple with being undocumented or having temporary legality, and discrimination …


Efficacy Of Expressive Therapy In Treating Combat-Related Ptsd – A Critical Review Of Literature, Lauren Pratt Jan 2021

Efficacy Of Expressive Therapy In Treating Combat-Related Ptsd – A Critical Review Of Literature, Lauren Pratt

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Recent advances in battlefield triage have curtailed combat-related deaths, simultaneously increasing the rate of combat-related trauma, and thereby emphasizing the need for access to efficacious treatment of PTSD in returning veterans. Veterans who may have sustained life-ending injuries from concussive elements such as explosions are instead surviving with PTSD and its debilitating effects. Recent studies suggest that traditional methods of treatment such as medication and talk therapy, while useful, are incomplete tactics when it comes to treating non-verbal trauma. The burgeoning field of expressive therapies (expressive art therapy, dance, drama, art, music, writing, etc.) offers a new approach that is …