Date of Award

Spring 5-15-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Educational Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Patricia Crain de Galarce

Second Advisor

Dr. Kaoru Miyazawa

Third Advisor

Dr. Valerie Blanc

Abstract

This mixed methods study explored how practicing the Discipline of Authentic Movement impacts relationships. This research was conducted to fill in the gaps around attunement and use of the Discipline of Authentic Movement as an intervention to support healthy relationships. Five self-selected adults met on Saturday afternoons for eight weeks to practice the Discipline of Authentic Movement. They completed a pre and post Revised Adult Attachment Scale and reflected weekly on their experience through journaling. Participants reported that it was the structure of the Discipline of Authentic Movement that allowed them to feel more comfortable being themselves with others. The essential structure included speaking without cross-talk, personal choice emphasized throughout, echoing, and shared gestures. Participant witnessing of others’ movement and speaking was profound for each participant exploring their own consciousness. Participants hearing how they impacted another was meaningful and created both a validated shared experience and an openness to the unknown. The key finding illustrates that practicing the Discipline of Authentic Movement, due to its structural elements, supports participants to feel more comfortable being themselves with others. Implications of this study support that the Discipline of Authentic Movement could be an effective standard of treatment for healing attachment wounds within the field of psychotherapy.

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