Date of Award
Winter 12-20-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MCM - MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Dr. Lee Ann Thill PhD, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC Dr. Valerie Blanc PhD, LMHC, BC-DMT, CMA
Abstract
The objective of this literature aims to first, elucidate the history of the exclusion or absence of women in research examining traumatic brain injury (TBI). Second, in reviewing more recent published research examining women and traumatic brain injury, trends indicate women are prone to injury at increasing rates to men, due to biological sex, physiological makeup, and different etiologies. Finally, this literature review endeavors to examine published dance/movement therapy (DMT) research, and recommendations, for suggested interventions to apply to women with traumatic brain injuries and common comorbid diagnosis of depression, and PTS. Unique challenges this population experiences. In doing so this thesis contributes to the small but expanding collection of published resources pertaining to women's TBI healthcare to serve as basic education to healthcare providers and researchers in the field and serve as a valuable resource for empowering female survivors to explore dance movement therapy.
The American Dance Therapy Association (2023) defines DMT as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being. While the intersection of DMT and traumatic brain injuries has not been extensively explored, existing studies indicated a reduction or improvement in individual, common comorbid symptoms including depression, PTS (Post Traumatic Stress), cognitive impairments, and body image concerns. Moreover, these initial findings point to the potential applicability of DMT to address the unique symptomatology of female TBI survivors. Further investigation into the application of DMT within the traumatic brain injury population is essential to uncover potential interventions and bolster the credibility of this field within the medical community. Ultimately, this increased recognition may lead to referrals for DMT and its recognition as a viable treatment modality for female TBI survivors.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Hall, Cathy Patricia, "“Too Pretty to Be Brain Injured” Dance Movement Therapy and Women With/Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury: A Literature Review" (2023). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 902.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/902
Approval Form
Included in
Dance Movement Therapy Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Practices Commons
Rights
The author owns the copyright to this work.
