Date of Award
Spring 5-17-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Major
Clinical Mental Health Counselling
First Advisor
Meg Chang
Abstract
This literature review examines the potential of creative arts therapies, particularly multimodal approaches, in improving social connection and communication for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The review explores how expressive arts therapy, including dance/movement, music, art, and drama therapy, engages children with ASD in non-verbal and emotionally expressive ways. Emphasizing early intervention, it highlights how these therapies promote emotional regulation, social and motor skills, and self-expression, enabling children to connect with others and navigate their social worlds. Drawing on both research and personal experience, the review illustrates how creative arts therapy can provide flexible, individualized interventions to meet the diverse needs of children with ASD, fostering an environment where self-discovery and social connection can flourish.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Cornacchini, Riley K., "Multimodal Dance/Movement Therapy for Children with Autism" (2025). Expressive Therapies Theses. 75.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_theses/75
