Examining Ritual in Dance/Movement Therapy

Author

Jessica Michele Flores, Lesley UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MCM - MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Catherine Borbotsina

Abstract

Ritual practices have long been a part of numerous cultures’ history as mind-body actions performed for healing. Modern day rituals can be observed in baptisms, weddings, or funerals. Rituals have also been adapted into various psychotherapy approaches as effective, time-limited transformative additions through Van Gennep’s transition phases among varying populations. Ritual and dance/movement therapy are established as effective healing processes through similar concepts including sociality, dance, non-verbal communication and being body-based approaches. This literature review revealed the inner workings of ritual performance and dance/movement therapy through neuroscience. This literature review intends to present relevant research on the unique molding qualities of rituals in psychotherapy, neuroscience that further establishes the work of dance/movement therapy and ritual practices, and the effective and inclusiveness of utilizing rituals within dance/movement therapy.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Flores, Jessica Michele, "Examining Ritual in Dance/Movement Therapy" (2018). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 43.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/43