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The Dance Of Here And Now: A Heuristic Journey Uncovering The Role Of Presence While Practicing Dance/Movement Therapy With An Elderly Population Experiencing Dementia, Kaitlynn Sinki

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The goal of this heuristic research study was to further explore the concept of presence within the dance/movement therapist, and how presence could be accessed within the practice of dance/movement therapy. Specifically, how I the researcher, can efficiently utilize presence within myself as a vehicle for therapeutic change while working with an elderly population experiencing dementia. Guided by heuristic and intuitive inquiry methodologies, my personal experience of presence was observed and analyzed. Data collection took place over a three month period consisting of structured journaling, embodied movement responses, and spontaneous artmaking in relation to dance/movement therapy sessions. Findings suggested that …