Date of Award
Spring 5-17-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies
Major
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
E. Kellogg, PhD.
Abstract
Having an embodied experience as a human being in the world in 2025 is stressful. The feelings of disconnection, loneliness, and anxiety that many have on a daily basis can reduce their capacity to feel sensations of safety, agency, ease, and empowerment. This thesis focuses on the development of a method to support adults in experiencing moments of interpersonal and intrapersonal connection in community by re-engaging with childhood rituals. Through the lenses of polyvagal theory, the expressive arts continuum (ETC), and therapeutic attunement the “Back to Kindergarten” methodology seeks to provide a structured and nourishing environment for adults to return to a more regulated nervous system. This methodology is not simple nostalgia and escapism. Rather it is an expressive arts based conduit to a stabilized and steady anchor from which personal resilience can rise and ripple into the community, laying the groundwork in support of collaborative change towards a more just society. The literature review explores the connection between the autonomic nervous system and one’s environment through polyvagal theory. It depicts how the rituals of childhood address a range of kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, affective, cognitive and symbolic functions of the ETC. In addition, it explores how play can mitigate the epidemic of loneliness and foster connection.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mozzone, Norie A., "Going “Back to Kindergarten” To Create Connection, Reduce Loneliness, and Build Resilience: A Community Workshop" (2025). Expressive Therapies Theses. 3.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_theses/3
