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Full-Text Articles in Dance Movement Therapy

"With A Heavy Heart": A Literature Review Exploring The Embodiment Of Grief And Its Implications For Grief Processing, Mollie Pratt May 2025

"With A Heavy Heart": A Literature Review Exploring The Embodiment Of Grief And Its Implications For Grief Processing, Mollie Pratt

Expressive Therapies Theses

Though a plethora of literature has explored the connection between bereavement and the body, much of that research has focused on bereavement’s effects on physical health. Little research has been conducted to explore bereaved individuals’ embodiment of their grief, and even less has investigated the implications of those embodied sensations on the possible use of embodiment in interventions for grief processing. This literature review aimed to gain a better understanding of how grief is felt by and expressed through the body. The literature was synthesized, and common embodied themes reported by bereaved individuals were identified. Additionally, a discussion of possible …


Reimagining “Embodiment” In Dance/Movement Therapy: Unraveling The Roots Of Oppression In Our Bodies And Our Practice—A Literature Review, Holly A. Herzfeld May 2025

Reimagining “Embodiment” In Dance/Movement Therapy: Unraveling The Roots Of Oppression In Our Bodies And Our Practice—A Literature Review, Holly A. Herzfeld

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis explores the intertwined roots of power, privilege, and oppression embedded in the term “embodiment” within Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) and how it is applied in the profession via a review of the literature. By locating the body as the vessel of experience, including trauma and oppression, this work challenges the dominant understanding of embodiment as solely about connectedness and groundedness, questioning why connection to the body is so often equated with psychological health. While the mind has been historically privileged over the body, DMT’s emphasis on bodily experience presents a unique opportunity to decolonize our dominant understanding of embodiment. …


A Proposal For The Theoretical Integration Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Dance/Movement Therapy, Sarah Crain May 2025

A Proposal For The Theoretical Integration Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Dance/Movement Therapy, Sarah Crain

Expressive Therapies Theses

A recognized integration of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dance/movement therapy (DMT) has not been developed because the concept currently lacks a strong philosophical and theoretical background. Observations from adjacent integrative expressive therapies and clinical practice provide encouragement that these models may provide a unique contribution to the field of psychotherapy. CBT would support the field of DMT toward better establishing an evidence-based theoretical background and framework. It is proposed that a well-supported approach to CBT and DMT should be built from a theoretical integration that upholds integrity of both models while identifying connective philosophical roots. This literature review initiates …


Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Positive Experiences Of Embodiment Among Rural Lgbtq+ Adults: A Literature Review, Ann Stromgren Sep 2023

Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Positive Experiences Of Embodiment Among Rural Lgbtq+ Adults: A Literature Review, Ann Stromgren

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper investigates the use of expressive arts therapy to support LGBTQ+ adult clients in rural communities. Caring professionals in rural areas often lack training on how to work with LGBTQ+ clients, and best practices for clinical mental health counseling with rural LGBTQ+ clients have yet to be defined. Some evidence suggests that using “metronormative” best practices with rural clients may be irrelevant or cause harm (Giano et al., 2020). Although some recommendations exist for using expressive therapies with LGBTQ+ clients, they are rarely evidence-based, as very few empirical studies exist evaluating the effectiveness of expressive therapy interventions with LGBTQ+ …


Embodied Transformation: A Review Of Play And Dance Movement Therapy For Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kaiyue Chen May 2020

Embodied Transformation: A Review Of Play And Dance Movement Therapy For Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kaiyue Chen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the potential role of play and playfulness in dance movement therapy (DMT) for the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), which results from exposure to complex trauma. As its name suggests, CPTSD symptoms can be more severe than that of PTSD, and the prevalence of CPTSD is estimated at 3.8% of the U.S. population (Cloitre et al., 2019). Given these factors, this mental health issue warrants further research and treatment support. Towards this end, a critical review of the literature on the topics of complex trauma/CPTSD, play, and DMT has been conducted. Based on a synthesis …


Patterns Of Stigma: Dance Therapy As An Intervention Method For People Living With Hiv, Elizabeth Jezorski May 2018

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 …


Embodied Nonverbal Microaggressions From The Perspective Of Dance/Movement Therapists: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Rebecca A. Schultz Dec 2017

Embodied Nonverbal Microaggressions From The Perspective Of Dance/Movement Therapists: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Rebecca A. Schultz

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored dance/movement therapist’s embodied experiences of nonverbal microaggressions and how they experience nonverbal microaggressions in the clinical relationship. Data were collected via hour-long, video recorded, in-person interviews of four (N = 4) current practicing dance/movement therapists in the Chicago area. Data analysis was conducted using IPA of verbal and movement data where five key themes emerged (a) personal offense, (b) anger, and (c) curiosity towards experiences of nonverbal microaggressions; and microaggressions have the potential to both (d) strengthen and (e) harm the clinical relationship. Their experiences implicate the vital role the body plays in …


My Embodied Multiracial Experience, Catherine C. Miller May 2015

My Embodied Multiracial Experience, Catherine C. Miller

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

While there is some research on dance/movement therapy (DMT) and people of Color, there is no research specifically on the use of DMT with multiracial people. This heuristic study explored the embodied experience of being multiracial and how that experience could inform the practice of DMT to better meet the possible needs of multiracial clients. The researcher was a 24 year old multiracial female graduate student. Data collection lasted for 12 weeks and consisted of experiences in which the researcher’s multiracial heritage was highlighted. Data was collected through three self-interviews and artistic journaling. The researcher used Forinash’s adapted form of …