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The Battle for Control: Why Dance/Movement Therapy Should be the Foremost Therapy for the Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Literature Review
Get PDFThis review will provide an explanation of the complexities and symptoms surrounding eating disorders, including etiology, barriers and stigmatization, and current treatment provided. There is a focus on the three most common eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Dance/movement therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for this disorder, and this review demonstrates the main themes found in literature surrounding the psychological symptoms, including body image, control, and identity. This literature review outlines the need for DMT within this population, five DMT frameworks that are currently working with eating disorders, as well as why it should be viewed as the most prominent therapy for work with eating disorders. Also provided is the role that a dance/movement therapist plays to create healthy practices and interventions for this population
How Drama Therapy Interventions May Enhance the Psychological Health of Astronauts: A Literature Review
Get PDFAstronauts may encounter a number of psychological challenges throughout their space missions. Crew members often suffer from a disrupted circadian rhythm, thus altering their sleep patterns. Prolonged disrupted sleep has been linked to a decline in executive functioning, concentration, and decision making, all of which are crucial to the duties of an astronaut. Additionally, crews are required to stay in cramped living quarters with the same group of people for an extended period of time, leading to an increased possibility of interpersonal conflict. There are no open spaces in which to escape when trying to decompress, there is limited contact with family and friends, and a very different visual atmosphere than that of Earth, all potentially contributing to higher levels of depression and loneliness. These findings suggest that the mental health of astronauts are of significant importance. This literature review aims to outline the current available treatment options for the mental health of astronauts, as well as gaps that certain drama therapy techniques may be able to fill. Merging the conversation between the fields of drama therapy and space science will allow for further research and development on this subject matter and will also introduce the possibility of using drama therapy with a new population
The Potential of Using Dance/Movement Therapy in Treating Depression in the Adult Population in Thailand: A Literature Review
Get PDFDepression is becoming increasingly prevalent in Thailand, and while many depressive symptoms manifest through the physical body, there are few treatments for depression in Thailand that involve the physical body. Previous research suggests that Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) can effectively treat depression by incorporating the physical body and individuals’ embodied feelings into the treatment process. This literature review aims to explore the potential of incorporating DMT into the treatment for depression in the adult population in Thailand, by reviewing literature about DMT practice for depression and existing treatments for depression in Thailand. The findings suggest that while physical body incorporation is not currently included in depression treatment in Thailand, Thai people are not averse to the idea of using the physical body in the healing process. The usage of dance and movement for well-being can be widely accepted by Thai people and medical practitioners. Mindfulness practice, which is a Buddhist practice, is already established in Thailand and is familiar to the Thai population, making it a strong foundation for DMT to take root and grow. The body awareness practice, as a key component of both mindfulness practice and DMT practice, can serve as a gateway for DMT to be introduced in Thailand and establish deeper roots for future practices
Expressive Art Group Therapy to Improve Children with Autism\u27s Social and Expressive Skills and Facilitate Parent-Child
Get PDFThis paper discusses an approach to expressive arts therapy that involves joint participation by parents and children to utilize expressive arts therapy to enhance parents\u27 comprehension of their children\u27s communication styles and to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder acquire practical communication skills. The study included children between the ages of 6 and 9 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and one of their parents. The author gathered information and concluded by process notes, conversations with co-leaders, and final participant interviews. Most children and parents reported experiencing a sense of support and ease within the group. This paper demonstrates that when children and parents engage in expressive arts therapy together, they can a) effectively facilitate parents\u27 comprehension of their children\u27s self-expression, b) assist parents in learning how to communicate with their children with ASD, c) improve children\u27s communication and self-expression skills, and d) foster positive parent-child relationships. However, due to the short duration of the group therapy and the limited sample size, there are constraints on the reliability of the conclusions, and additional research in this area is necessary
Dance Movement Therapy and Families with Children with Disabilities: Working and Moving Together: A Literature Review
Get PDFDance/movement therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic treatment that is available to a vast variety of populations. Research proves that children under the age of 12 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience challenges with communication and social skills, abnormalities in body language and regulation, repetitive motor movements (fidgeting), difficulties in play or social activities, and sensitivity to sensory inputs. While literature suggests that dance/movement therapy can provide an effective reduction of the related symptoms seen in developmentally disabled children (ASD/ADHD), there is less emphasis on how dance/movement therapy can offer similar relief for the family members of neurodivergent children. Caregivers of these children often need to adapt their personal needs, daily routines, experience stress, burnout, and depression, while also enduring social isolation and challenges within their personal relationships. This review seeks a greater understanding of the obstacles caregivers and their developmentally disabled child undergo and encourages dance/movement therapy to be employed for the betterment of the family system’s daily lives
The Role of Cultural and Expressive Arts Therapies in the Puerto Rican Diasporic Identity: A Literature Review
Get PDFIdentity for Puerto Rican immigrants is a growing concern with the influx of migration due to numerous natural and human based disasters. This literature review will review Puerto Rico’s tumultuous history and the development of identity through history. Including the Taino, the influence of African slaves, The Three Root Model and colonization by Spain and the United States. Accordingly, this review explores culturally specific beliefs and culturally creative arts and how those can be used in healing practices through Expressive Arts Therapies. We will also consider the culturally sensitivities needed in further research on this topic and within current day therapeutic methods
Exploring the Sociocultural Importance of Dance Movement Therapy and African American Mental Health
Get PDFThe following literature review investigates the role of sociocultural factors of dance/movement therapy (DMT) and the mental health of people of African descent, specifically African Americans. Sociocultural aspects of DMT are critically examined, and mental health conditions prevalent amongst African Americans are explored through a culture-specific lens. The combination of therapeutic approaches and theoretical frameworks like critical race theory and relational-cultural therapy are valuable and necessary to consider as they can more precisely underscore the importance of generational trauma and racialized oppression within the psychological distress of African Americans. This literature review presents a brief history and evolution of dance/movement therapy (DMT), plus a critical analysis of its capacity for working with African Americans. Psychologies, vernacular dances, and therapeutic movement practices that are culturally associated with African American communities are considered alongside DMT in terms of theoretical orientation and clinical applications. Specifically, decolonizing psychologies, and traditional and contemporary Black/African-derived dance forms are highlighted as potential foundations for therapeutic approaches and practices that can directly attend to or remedy race-based issues that have historically been overlooked by or unincluded in the mainstream psychotherapy field. While the core of this capstone thesis emphasizes the need for evolving psychotherapy theories and interventions to offer African Americans more expansive outlets for restoration and increased total well-being, the development of biopsychosocial interventions for all racial groups is noted as essential for advancing therapeutic fields toward social justice, improving cultural relations, and ameliorating culturally-oppressive political systems in America and abroad
Exploring Physician Assistant Students\u27 Perceptions of Stress and Help Seeking Behavior
Get PDFPhysician Assistant (PA) students, similar to other students enrolled in medical education, experience a variety of stressors throughout their education and training that can inhibit their academic and clinical success and affect patient care outcomes. The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to explore PA students\u27 and alumni\u27s perceived stressors, their experiences of the stressors, and the help-seeking behaviors they employ and perceive as useful to address them. Following an explanatory sequential design, all PA students and alumni (n = 288) from one program in the northeast were invited to complete an anonymous online survey assessing their perceptions and experiences with PA program-related stress (n =150 completed the survey). The qualitative phase then utilized two focus group interviews (n = 21) to help clarify and add insights to the results. Faculty from the same institution were also surveyed to explore their perceptions of students\u27 stress to gain a third, triangulated perspective for this study. ANOVA and Tukey statistical analyses revealed that stress levels attributed to academic workload, academic performance concerns, clinical site experiences, transportation issues, and employment were statistically significant (p \u3c 0.01). Findings also revealed that even when acknowledging experiences of stress and its associated adverse effects, respondents were unlikely to seek help when needed, citing barriers such as lack of time, accessibility to resources viewed as appropriate and safe, and a perception of pervasive mental health stigma within the PA profession. Findings from the faculty survey showed similar perceptions of student stress and help seeking tendencies. This research study accentuated the lack of diversity in the PA field and the insufficient existing resources to address students\u27 needs. Findings indicate a need for additional research to explore larger samples across multiple institutions in the field to consider stressors and identify ways to reduce them at both individual and institutional levels. Moreover, a better understanding of the stigma(s) related to mental health and seeking help could inform the design of a comprehensive prevention strategy within the PA field and medical education at large
Seam/Seem; Exploring Material, Craft and Embodiment through Textile Sculpture
Get PDFI will argue that transforming textile materials from their origin as planate fiber, and manipulating shape and form through the employment of traditional craft techniques creates soft sculptures imbued with references to the human body. By highlighting the connections between the poetics of textiles and those of skin and the body, I examine themes of feminism, domesticity and labor encouraging speculation about intimacy, fragility, and embodiment
Both Human and Holy: A Veneration of Personhood Through Mythic Means
Get PDFMythology acts as a reflection of humanity, a connection of personhood and storytelling that spans through history. This essay covers how the ideas of myth, personhood, archetype, and portraiture remain central to my work. The nature of mythology is innately human in all aspects, centering on ideas being both fictitious and truthful - which allows the ideas of the dualistic aspects between the personhood and mythos with the figures worked with. My work is about people; I elevate the figure into mythic while using those myths to discuss the aspects of identity. My work leans heavily upon my own fixation of the face and fascination with mythology, exploring the way those two interact and allowing the exploration of these concepts