Date of Award
Spring 5-21-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Meg Chang
Abstract
This thesis considers dance/movement therapy as a transdisciplinary approach to treating trauma in the body. It explains what the functions of the brain are, how trauma negatively affects it, and how posttraumatic stress disorder is expressed in both the body and the brain. It discusses multidisplinary approaches, it shows how these approaches leverage the body in treating trauma. Moreover, it demonstrates the benefits and advantages of a dance/movement therapist in supporting individuals who have experienced traumatic events. To achieve these goals, this thesis discusses research by neuroscientists, such as Damassio (1999), who maintain that the body and mind directly affect each other. This thesis reviews the work of Gray (2017), with polyvagal theory. It discusses sixteen studies on occupational therapists’ treatment of trauma (Edgelow et al, 2020). These studies emphasize occupational therapists need someone with a mental health background to assist with traumatized individuals’ treatments. Through a review of the literature, this thesis will discuss dance/movement therapy as a transdisciplinary approach to treating trauma.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Schadder, Destany, "Dance/Movement Therapy as a Transdisciplinary Approach to Treating Trauma" (2022). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 621.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/621
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Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Counseling Commons, Psychology Commons, Public Health Commons, Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons
Rights
The author owns the copyright to this work.
