Dance/Movement Therapy in the Treatment of Emotional Dysregulation in Children with Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Challenges: A Literature Review

Author

Sarah E. ScarbroughFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MAE - Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Wendy Allen

Abstract

This literature review examines the topic of emotional regulation as it relates to children with emotional, cognitive and behavioral impairments and the effectiveness of current treatment modalities. In this paper emotional regulation is conceptualized as the ability to modulate the intensity and/or duration of emotional responses. Emotional regulation is explored for both its intrinsic and extrinsic features and how they interact with treatment outcomes. Current psychotherapeutic and dance/ movement therapy interventions aimed at improving emotional awareness, expression, and regulation coping skills are discussed. Group interventions are investigated for their unique contributions to the development of emotional regulation skills. The importance and efficacy of school-based programs as a proactive action against the negative long term impacts on continuous emotional dysregulation is brought into consideration. Directions for future research and the need for the development of a framework for a dance/ movement therapy program that uses group interventions for emotional regulation with children with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems in schools are discussed.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Scarbrough, Sarah E., "Dance/Movement Therapy in the Treatment of Emotional Dysregulation in Children with Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Challenges: A Literature Review" (2024). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 797.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/797