Date of Award

Spring 5-20-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Dr. Valerie Blanc

Abstract

Mental health can significantly impede navigating the social domain during adolescence. Research has indicated social development of adolescents may be impacted by psychopathology and emotional development, further hindering one’s formation of self. There is also limited research showing the effectiveness of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) with the adolescent population. This writer designed and adapted one DMT session for adolescents to understand this topic better. This capstone will present an adaptable method utilizing a DMT intervention with participants between the ages of 13-17 in a Partial Hospital Program (PHP). This project aimed to examine how DMT can support self-identity and the acquisition of interpersonal social skills with adolescents in a PHP through movement experiences and emotional content. The participants were asked to engage in an intervention, including movement exercises, body awareness, improvisation, and emotional expression. The method aimed to bring attention to DMT’s contribution to social engagement and its value and benefits. The facilitator’s reflections on the group’s process identified several themes that suggested the intervention had a positive effect and may benefit adolescents in a PHP setting.

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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