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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Balletic Mind: Expressive Arts Therapy For Professional Ballet Dancers: A Literature Review And Autoethnography, Madison Borden May 2024

The Balletic Mind: Expressive Arts Therapy For Professional Ballet Dancers: A Literature Review And Autoethnography, Madison Borden

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the mental health needs of professional ballet dancers and suggests how expressive arts therapies can be used to address issues surrounding themes of body image, injury and pain, and identity. A review of the research on ballet culture examines both the advantages and disadvantages of ballet for a dancer's overall health. By acknowledging both the negative and positive qualities of ballet, counselors may develop a deeper awareness and empathy for a population that severely overworks their body and mind. An autoethnographic approach was used to allow for personal ballet practices to influence and stimulate academic inquiry while …


The Archeology Of Adoption: Tracing The Journey From Birth Through Adoption Using Pre-Adoptive Artifacts, Ellen Reeve May 2024

The Archeology Of Adoption: Tracing The Journey From Birth Through Adoption Using Pre-Adoptive Artifacts, Ellen Reeve

Educational Studies Dissertations

Adults adopted in childhood often face a heightened susceptibility to psychological and behavioral challenges compared with their non-adopted peers. Scholars examining this phenomenon associate various factors, including an adoptee’s sense of self as an individual within a complex adoption background. This qualitative study utilized a material engagement theory to explore birth through adoptive narratives among adults adopted in closed settings during childhood. Through participatory research, participants examined a range of artifacts related to maternal relinquishment, encompassing foster and adoption records, original birth certificates, letters, photographs, birthmarks, clothing, hair, scars, and DNA test results. The study focused on understanding these artifacts’ …


Ethnic Name-Changing Among Mandarin-Speaking Music Therapists In The United States And Its Influence On Their Identity: A Literature Review, Ying-Jung Chen May 2024

Ethnic Name-Changing Among Mandarin-Speaking Music Therapists In The United States And Its Influence On Their Identity: A Literature Review, Ying-Jung Chen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis uses available literature to explore the ethnic name-changing and its impact on the identity of Mandarin-speaking music therapists in the United States. Eight themes are explored in this literature review: (1) the distinction of Mandarin Chinese; (2) the relationship between names and selves; (3) Chinese naming practices; (4) the practice of name-changing among Mandarin speakers in the United States; (5) the reasons behind Mandarin speakers adopting English names; (6) cross-cultural adaptation; (7) cultural adaptation of foreign music therapists in the United States; and (8) the significance of music therapist's identity exploration. This literature review highlights the importance …


The Feminine Expansion Of Role Theory: A Community Workshop, Alexis Cisneros May 2024

The Feminine Expansion Of Role Theory: A Community Workshop, Alexis Cisneros

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Traditional gender roles and dominant narratives in society impose different pressures on men and women. Women experience the societal pressure to excel in multiple roles simultaneously such as caregiver, breadwinner, partner, and community member all while meeting societal judgements and expectations regarding appearance, achievements, and behavior (Ilic, 2023). This thesis will focus on the development of a drama therapy community workshop for cisgender women to explore the roles they play in Western society. Because we are living in a patriarchal society where the understanding of human experience is mostly through a white, male, heterosexual, middle-class, and able-bodied lens my focus …


Identity, Intimacy And Power: From Self Consciousness To Self Trust: A Holistic Approach To Identity In Women To Support Authentic Expression, Aliveness, Freedom And Intimacy With Life During Times Of Change, Jennifer Shields May 2024

Identity, Intimacy And Power: From Self Consciousness To Self Trust: A Holistic Approach To Identity In Women To Support Authentic Expression, Aliveness, Freedom And Intimacy With Life During Times Of Change, Jennifer Shields

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This Dance/Movement Therapy Capstone Thesis is a literature review and heuristic exploration of women’s experience of the patriarchal effects on identity and intimacy. After establishing an understanding of power within the roots of patriarchy and its internalized effects on women’s relationship with their inner knowing this thesis aims to understand power in a new, counter cultural way that is tethered to a source within. Through the lens of Tantrik Hatha Yoga and Authentic Movement this thesis offers a counter cultural way to understand identity as layered, malleable and rooted in a relationship to awareness. This shift in relationship to identity …


Peering Through The Window: Engaging Older Adults In Different Art Media To Build Community And Find Identity Through Play And The Challenge Of Trying Something New, Kate Hunter May 2024

Peering Through The Window: Engaging Older Adults In Different Art Media To Build Community And Find Identity Through Play And The Challenge Of Trying Something New, Kate Hunter

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Some older adults experience physical and cognitive changes that can lead to social isolation and can impact identity, health, and wellbeing. Research has shown that arts-based group psychosocial interventions have the potential to improve the quality of life for older adults along with fostering connections in community and building confidence and acceptance of self-identity. From this research, I developed a crafts-based intervention that focused on the interests and hobbies of the group members. The group was offered in an independent living facility with women over the age of 62 who were American and Asian-American. Over the course of the sessions, …


I Just Want To Be A Normal Teenager: A Literature Review Of Impacts Of Adolescent-Onset Chronic Illness On Identity Development And Proposed Benefits Of Drama Therapy, Margaret Young May 2024

I Just Want To Be A Normal Teenager: A Literature Review Of Impacts Of Adolescent-Onset Chronic Illness On Identity Development And Proposed Benefits Of Drama Therapy, Margaret Young

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescence is a crucial moment in life for establishing our personal identity, internal values, and social autonomy (Christie & Viner, 2005); however, this already-tumultuous time can be further complicated by the addition of a chronic illness diagnosis which can lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and an inconsistent sense of self (Chisholm, 2018; Wicks et al., 2019). This literature review investigates the current research regarding the impacts of chronic illness on identity development as well as the landscape of available expressive therapies interventions. Based on personal experience and available literature, I argue that drama therapy can provide much needed support …