Date of Award
Spring 5-18-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MCM - MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Sarah Hamil
Abstract
This thesis explores the mind-body experience through an arts-based research approach to examine, and redefine the emotional capacity and usefulness of males through societal determinants that limits and hinders men from living their authentic selves. Through the lens of a metaphoric “Man Box” 112 men participated in a workshop recreating their personal narratives of socialization through, style of dress, coping mechanisms, belief systems and who they should be as men through society's standards. In the “Man Box,” male bonding, and emotional feelings are discouraged, while the objectification of women, material property and physical/emotional strength are encouraged. This research investigates the mind-body approach as a positive shift to increase quality of life while decreasing symptoms of anxiety, depression, subjective well-being, poor mood, shame, and body image. Effects for sexual orientation were also explored, but due to the inconsistency of the information, the data remained inconclusive. Methodological shortcomings of more specific studies limited the results and, therefore, further investigations are needed to strengthen and expand upon art-based research in DMT, with the consideration of personal narrative and poetry as therapy. Information about the usefulness of the mind-body approach in practices, career choices and various aspects of life are discussed.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Reynolds, Steven, "DMT and “The Man Box:” Provoking Change and Encouraging Authentic Living, An Arts-Based Project" (2019). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 139.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/139
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
