Dance Movement Therapy Commons^™

Stuck In Somatic Countertransference: A Heuristic Study, Katie Hochleutner

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This heuristic research study explored how somatic countertransference in my own body, as a clinician, is related to my freeze response when working with clients in a behavioral health hospital. Primary questions that led the research, included: what does somatic countertransference feel like in my own body as a clinician, what happens in my body during a stress response of freezing, and, how can I modulate through my stress response to become regulated in session? These curiosities led to my ultimate research question, how can I, as an emerging dance/movement therapist, modulate through my freeze response while experiencing somatic countertransference …

The Manzano Movement Method (M3): Development Of A Dance/Movement Therapy-Influenced Seated Ballroom Dance Program For Adult Day Services For Persons With Dementia, Joshua Reese "Zano" Manzano

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to develop a dance/movement therapy (DMT)-influenced seated ballroom dance program for adult day services for persons with dementia. This program development project, named the Manzano Movement Method (M3), aims to support quality of life by encouraging creative expression, reminiscence and socialization. M3 explored how seated ballroom dance can support the quality of life for this population via six different lessons of the following dances: waltz, cha cha, rumba, tango, foxtrot and swing. It also explored how the program can be utilized by care providers that are not dance/movement therapists. With collaborator help—stakeholders at an …

I Don't Know: An Artistic Inquiry Self-Study Of Clinical Decision Making In Dance/Movement Therapy, Sarah Wiltgen

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this artistic inquiry self-study was to engage in an embodied, in-depth process of exploration regarding how I engage in clinical decision-making. My research question was: “how do I, as an emerging dance/movement therapist, approach the clinical decision-making process?” Data was recorded through written journaling and video recorded improvisational movement. Journaling and movement were elicited through the visualization of a moment in a dance/movement therapy session in which I was caught off guard and needed to make a clinical decision. Such moments provoked anxiety and a freeze response that interfered with effective clinical intervention. Data was analyzed through …

Grief Moves: An Embodied Artistic Inquiry Into Losing And Finding The Self, Joanna Taubeneck

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this embodied artistic inquiry self-study was to investigate the role and felt-experience of grief during the process of professional identity loss. The use of this particular methodology offered the researcher an opportunity to use movement as the means towards both collecting and analyzing data so that the relationship between grief and identity transition could be sensed physically. Data was collected with a research consultant during six sessions of movement improvisations inspired by each of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ (1969) five stages of grief. The researcher and research consultant met six times as a result of their decision to include …

Dance/Movement Therapy Utilizing Therapy Dogs For Adults Diagnosed With Psychotic Disorders, Alyssa Danielle Owens

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this project was to develop dance/movement therapy (DMT) interventions incorporating therapy dogs with the goal of increasing present moment awareness in adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Individual interviews were held with two therapy dog handlers who served as consultants for the purpose of obtaining information regarding therapy dogs and how they are used in sessions. These individual interviews were audio recorded and transcribed to inform the development of three DMT interventions in collaboration with the dog handlers. A version of the Delphi Method was utilized in order to systematically organize the data obtained from the interviews (Hsu …

Caring For The Whole Clinician: A Body-Based Framwork For Self-Care And Supervision, Aliza Roth

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this program development project was to create a framework for clinical supervision that utilizes yoga and dance/movement therapy in support of the holistic wellness of mental health professionals. Clinicians are at risk for burnout and compassion fatigue, especially when they place more emphasis on their client’s well-being than their own. Research points to the significance of incorporating self-care, stress-management and embodied awareness of self and client into the supervision process; however, there remains an underdeveloped body of knowledge related to body-based frameworks for clinical supervision and how such frameworks relate to clinician self-care. Utilizing the five yogic …

Making Meaning Of Repetitious Movement Patterns: A Heuristic Inquiry, Elise Marie Ringenberg

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this research study was to explore how I, an emerging dance/movement therapist, understand and embody my own and my clients’ repetitious movement patterns. Through a heuristic inquiry, I explored how my body knowledge/body prejudice informs my observations and assessments of repetitious movement patterns exhibited in others. I also investigated how I may use my findings to create unbiased dance/movement therapy interventions. I collected data in the form of journal responses following individual dance/movement therapy sessions where I observed repetitious movements in children at my internship site, a medical unit at a children’s hospital. Secondly, I collected movement …

A Dance/Movement Therapist's Perspective On Self-Regulation With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Intellectual Disability, Nicole Louise Anderson

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This clinical case study explores my understanding of self-regulation and the impact it had on my clinical decision-making while in dance/movement therapy (DMT) sessions with a client diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). I was motivated by the interactions I had at my internship while working with this client. For the purpose of this study, I chose the theoretical lens of Daniel Siegel’s theory of self-regulation. Self-regulation is a process that organizes the mind and the body in space (Siegel, 2015). Currently, there is research on working with self-regulation and adults with ASD and ID, but …

Therartpist: An Artisitc Inquiry On The Interplay Of Identities, Alisha Sue-Yi Jihn

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This thesis is an embodied artistic inquiry focused on thoughtfully engaging in self reflection through movement, with the intention of discovering how the identities of emerging dance/movement therapist and dance artist inform and interplay with one another. Data was collected through six Authentic Movement sessions with a trained Authentic Movement practitioner. Data analysis occurred through arts-based creative synthesis, which included freeassociation drawing, writing, and movement improvisation. Main themes of bodily knowing and relationship developed from data analysis. Culmination of artistic inquiry occurred through a dance film focused on above-mentioned themes. The dance film can be viewed from the link in …

Developing Cultural Awareness Throught Body-Based Skills And Movement With Children In The Catholic Charities Of Joliet Head Start Classroom, Natiya M. Reggans

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this project was to develop a program for Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet Head Start that cultivates social-emotional development in children. Cultural intelligence and pro-social skills are fostered through the methods of creative movement, body-based skills, and art-making. Using the Delphi Method as a guide, I employed two round of interviews. The first round was an open-ended questionnaire for the purpose of brainstorming about cultural difference, and a follow-up informal interview for open dialogue about any questions, comments, or concerns from the collaborators. The logic model was used for data analysis and resulted in the following themes: …

Past, Present, Future: A Program Development Exploring Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (Ptss) Using Experimental Learning And Dance/Movement Therapy Based Approaches, Bria Campbell

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of this program development project was to create a program that utilizes dance/movement therapy concepts integrated with Dr. Joy DeGruy's Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS) theory, specifically with suggestions for healing PTSS, to help African American Adolescents in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood understand, explore and heal from PTSS. The Delphi Methods was used to gather information from collaborators via individual interviews and follow up surveys. Collaborators, all experienced community leaders with African American adolescents in the Roseland neighborhood and similar neighborhoods, included one African American dance/movement therapist, one program developer, an arts and education director and an arts education …

Effectively Integrating Dance/Movement Therapy And Restorative Justice Into High School Programs, Tia Vegemast

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The purpose of the thesis is to develop a stand-alone program that has added dance/movement therapy informed interventions to an existing restorative justice program for high schools to implement. The high school program is designed to support youth in repairing damaged relationships caused by different behavioral issues. As schools are transitioning from punitive punishment to a more restorative approach to discipline, this program provides a new way of incorporating a more holistic approach to restorative justice and the healing process using movement of the body to further empathic understanding. Students will be able to learn from their mistakes and understand …

A Heuristic Inquiry: Engaging With Spirituality As Self-Care, Meredith E. Weissert

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This heuristic inquiry explored effective self-care practices, specifically engaging with spirituality, for emerging dance/movement therapists. Guided by a pragmatic paradigm and heuristic methodology, I was the only researcher and participant and I engaged in meditation within nature as a spiritual practice. Data collection methods included completing a semi-structured self-interview after each spiritual practice, creating embodied experiences of spirituality as self-care and filming them, and recording themes from this footage in relation to Laban’s body, effort, shape, and space categories (Moore, 2014). Moustakas’ (1990) data analysis method and creative synthesis were used. Findings revealed that engaging in spiritual self-care fostered increased …

Many Truths: A Case Record Review Of How Teaching A Dance Class For Students With Special Needs Shaped My Professional Identity, Shauna D. Shrewsbury

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This thesis is a self-reflective exploration of an ongoing investigation into my professional identity development using a case record review. The purpose of this review was to gain a better understanding of how my knowledge of dance/movement therapy influenced my facilitation of a dance class for students with special needs. This process took place through the teaching of a community dance class for students with special needs called Friday Night Dance Party (FNDP). This review utilized historical data in the form of a reflection sheet, art making, and stream of consciousness journaling completed after each class. Upon the completion of …

Dance/Movement Therapy Techniques For Helping Actors Exit Character And Emotion: A Program Development Project, Alison Vodnoy Wolf

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

The embodiment of emotion and character creates emotional dysregulation for many actors, yet few actor training programs teach emotional regulation techniques to help actors intentionally exit character and emotion. The purpose of this program development is to collaborate with others in creating a program that addresses symptoms of emotional dysregulation in populations of actors. The program will do this by providing actors with psychoeducation about the signs of emotional dysregulation and teaching dance/movement therapy skills that actors can use to regulate emotion after the embodiment of character and emotion. The intended result is to decrease the prevalence of disorders that …

Body Based Meditative And Mindfulness Practices For Veterans With Combat Related Ptsd, Jessica Steurer

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review investigates and examines how body based meditative and mindfulness practices can be an effective treatment method for Veterans with symptoms of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Yoga Therapy and other Expressive Therapy modalities (Art, Music) have developed evidenced-based practices and supporting research for this treatment area. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) has shown effectiveness when treating conditions Veterans often present with such as combat-related PTSD, Substance Abuse, Anxiety, and Stress. DMT is a modality that focuses on the integration of the mind and body. Veterans benefit from body-based practices because they help to focus on the present moment while …

How Can The Attunement Needs Of Children With Disorganized Attachment Styles Be Supported Through Expressive Arts Therapy?, Jayne Paley

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Treatment strategies for school age children with disorganized attachment are not well established. This population exhibits a range of difficulties in social relationships and self-regulation. Additionally, children with disorganized attachment generally rely on defense mechanisms and present with other comorbid conditions, adding to the complexity of treatment. This paper explores current research and theories about disorganized attachment and then, on the basis of evidence provided throughout this paper, proposes the concept of attunement needs in relation to working with children with disorganized attachment. The attunement needs described in this paper, derived from the literature, include safety/security, control/power, consistency, affective release, …

Patterns Of Stigma: Dance Therapy As An Intervention Method For People Living With Hiv, Elizabeth Jezorski

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper will explore the impact that dance movement therapy (DMT) has for people living with HIV. DMT is an evidence-based modality that engages the body in the therapeutic process for individuals and groups in various settings. DMT has been shown to increase social connectedness, empathy and body awareness in many populations; however, there is a lack of research using DMT as an intervention for people with concealable stigma. Concealable stigma is an experience of oppression that can often be hidden or concealed. To explore this, four DMT sessions were implemented with people living with HIV. These sessions were analyzed …

Dance Movement Therapy With Adolescents In A Partial Hospital Program: A Method For Engagement, Claude Michelle Aubourg

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Therapeutic engagement during adolescence can be a major challenge in adolescent mental health. Research has indicated therapeutic techniques designed for engaging clients are often ineffective for adolescents because adolescents bring distinctive qualities to the therapy process that differentiate them from other therapy populations. There is also limited research showing effectiveness of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) with the adolescent population. This capstone will present an adaptable method utilizing dance/movement therapy interventions with participants ages 12-17 in a Partial Hospital Program. The objective of this project was to examine how DMT can improve engagement in treatment with adolescents in a partial hospital program …

Self-Applied Touch To Promote Self-Regulation In Adolescent Males With Problem Sexual Behaviors: Development Of A Method, Nicole Krzeminski

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescents who have experienced problematic attachment relationships in infancy often have difficulty with self-regulation and therefore may cope using destructive means such as harmful sexual behavior. Self-regulation is the ability to calm the mind and body and manage emotions appropriately. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) may be a beneficial treatment tool for adolescents with problem sexual behaviors (PSB) to teach self-regulation techniques that may have not been developed due to early traumatic experiences. Self-applied touch is a DMT intervention that may assist individuals with self-regulation that was missed during critical developmental periods. This Capstone project implemented a self-applied touch warm-up with six …

Imagination Station: Activating Creativity In Children With Disabilities, Allison Dukes

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Play is a major topic of conversation when discussing childhood development is associated with creativity and imagination. Although there has been some research involving the creative process amongst children, little has been explored in regards to expressive arts as a technique to further current studies on play. This paper presents a combined method of intermodal expressive arts therapies and play therapy techniques to aid in the fostering of creativity within children with disabilities by utilized the theoretical framework provided by the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). A current review of literature on the ETC, cognitive functions, and expressive arts modalities is …

Distinguishing Between Empathy And Enabling: Dance/Movement Therapy For Family Members Of People With Addiction, Kellyn L. Uhl

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This theoretical inquiry investigates the experiences and needs of family members of people with addiction; a group which is rapidly growing in the United States, and one that has been largely neglected by health service providers and medical professionals. With more than 22 million Americans currently addicted to drugs and alcohol (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017), and 365 drug-related deaths occurring each day (Sheff, 2013), the scope of family member grief and suffering is immeasurable. Evidence-based research reveals that family members lose touch with their own basic needs and experience high rates of psychological and physical health …

Witnessing Another, Witnessing Oneself, Kyra Hess

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Witnessing is a crucial, defining mechanism of dance/movement therapy that demands physical awareness, emotional recognition, and verbalization with humble honesty. Although witnessing has the potential to arise in nearly all encounters, as dance/movement therapists work directly with multifaceted and complex individuals, there has been a lack of delineating the various elements required to accomplish this task. This thesis is an attempt to begin outlining of the process and elements of witnessing. Beginning with the history of witnessing and its unique features within the field of dance/movement therapy, the author provides the essential qualities to consider in order to witness another …

Smadditisation: Dancehall In Dance/Movement Therapy To Address The Loss Of Cultural Identity Within The Jamaica Diaspora, Allison Johnson

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This is a theoretical based study that focuses on members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States. Jamaican immigrants, or members of the diaspora, comprise the largest Caribbean immigrant group in the United States. These individuals have encountered a race stratified culture that is vastly different from their native culture. The culture within the United States also encourages individualism which is counter to the community-based values of the Jamaican culture. Encountering a new culture can be difficult and being assigned a new way of identifying can be stressful. This stress can manifest as depression, anxiety or feelings of isolation …

More Than A Witness: How Dance/Movement Therapy Uses The Body For Processing Exposure To Interparental Violence, Kristen Taylor Reyes

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Children are often overlooked when violence between two parents occurs. As a result, they grow up with the potential to become adults who repeat their parents’ violent actions or become victims of violence. This theory based study aims to highlight the often secretive nature of domestic violence between parental figures, heighten awareness of the effects of child exposure to the violence, reveal how those effects manifest in them as adults, and educate readers about the power of the body during traumatizing events. Through this study, a modality is offered for processing those traumatic experiences using the body through movement. That …

Bridging The Gap: Using The Body As A Conduit Within Dance/Movement Therapy To Enhance Holistic And Integrative Development In Early Childhood, Jennifer R. Moskowitz

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This paper presents development and learning in early childhood as a fully integrated and embodied experience, which is available for use in dance/movement therapy to help pre-school aged children bridge the gap between non-verbal expression and verbal communication. Cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of intelligence begin to accumulate in infancy by physically interacting with the environment. These interactions are enacted and refined through developmental patterns of movement and expression that have been laid out in the frameworks of the Kestenberg Movement Profile, Body-Mind Centering, Laban Movement Analysis, and Bartenieff Fundamentals. The wealth of knowledge, which is accumulated through bodily sensations …

Using Dance/Movement Therapy And Laban Movement Analysis To Build A Better Model Of Rehabilitation For Chronic Pain, Victoria Hughes

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This paper aims to explore the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain, the current treatments for chronic pain, and the use of Dance/Movement Therapy with Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals to build a better rehabilitation model that integrates the treatment of both the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain for long-term treatment. Currently, chronic pain is medically managed by separating the physical and psychological symptoms, creating an oversimplified and fragmented treatment process. Many medical and alternative treatments are reliant on pharmaceuticals and do not integrate the treatment of physical and psychological symptoms, rendering the current chronic pain …

Using Dance/Movement Therapy To Improve Mental Health Of Modern Chinese People, Si Wang

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This article introduces dance/movement therapy as a unique psychotherapeutic modality in treating Chinese clients facing depression, isolation, and other mental health issues in the 21st century. The article shows how dance/movement therapy can help Chinese clients reduce psychological difficulties produced by the conflict of needing to individuate in a modern society but not having enough social and cultural support for this individuation. It also discusses how Kestenberg Movement Profile and its developmental movement concepts can support Chinese clients to reintegrate developmental rhythms that help with individuation. Lastly, the article gives examples of how group therapy can help Chinese clients overcome …

Dancing, Mindfulness, And Our Emotions: Embracing The Mind, Body, And Sole, Alisha M. Collins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines dance, as an intervention and mindfulness practice that assists with managing our emotions. There is a need for dance therapy in social institutions such as, healthcare facilities, schools, and community centers. Dance therapy has the potential to reduce negative emotions, create mindfulness, improve self-expression, and promote a healthy well-being. I am proposing that dance therapy is applied as a regular practice in social institutions to develop mindfulness and promote emotional stability.

In this study, I argue that dance therapy can contribute to our well-being long term. In addition to this written thesis, a visual component of …

Creating Safety: Dance/Movement Therapy With Refugees, Jessica Lee Arroyo

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This thesis is a research based study that focuses on the use of dance/movement therapy in creating the experience of safety for refugees. With 65.6 million displaced people worldwide, and 22.5 million being refugees, the need for safety is ever growing. Beginning with a brief de-scription of the policies and process refugees must go through when entering the United States, this thesis aims to scratch the surface in describing the difficulties refugees experience. Much of the trauma they have endured has affected their bodies, and especially their integration of self. Dance/Movement therapy, which focuses on the body and movement, can …