Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Nick Suchecki

Abstract

Environmental degradation and destruction impact the long-term health and wellbeing of humans and ecosystems alike. Humans require new ways of relating to nature that support sustainable futures for all. This thesis argues that dance/movement therapy (DMT) with nature has the potential to facilitate sustainability transformations and that the embodiment of relationality can support the development of reciprocal human-nature relationships. This literature review is grounded in theories of relationality and reciprocity as conceptualized in various Indigenous knowledge systems and the fields of both sustainability and DMT. Existing research suggests that culturally-responsive, embodied, arts-based practices may increase human-nature connectedness and strengthen reciprocity in human-nature relationships, supporting health, wellbeing, and sustainable action for all those who inhabit Earth. By prioritizing kinesthetic, sensory, and affective experiences, DMT with nature has transformative potential in both mental health contexts and environmental justice initiatives. This author advocates for future research that centers the voices and experiences of Indigenous and other systematically oppressed communities who are disproportionately impacted by the adverse effects of climate change and who have embodied reciprocity and land stewardship for generations.

Creative Commons License

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

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