Creative Arts Therapies Theses

Date of Award

5-2010

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling (MA)

Department

Creative Arts Therapies

First Advisor

Hervey, Lenore

Keywords

authentic movement, brain injury

Abstract

This thesis is guided by curiosity regarding the possibility of incorporatingAuthentic Movement into a neuro-rehabilitation treatment program. Using Authentic Movement as part of one client's dance/movement therapy treatment, this qualitative case study explores and documents how mover consciousness, the first layer of Authentic Movement, develops and is taught to one client surviving brain injury. Data includes the researcher's journal entries, embodied knowledge, and notes written using a technique called embodied writing, as well as client journal entries, verbal responses, and the art work produced during each session. Data were analyzed by reviewing the material, embodying the data in my personal Authentic Movement practice, and composing the therapeutic process using embodied writing. The process revealed the researcher's ability to modify the first layer of Authentic Movement with one client surviving brain injury. Future studies are needed to assess the generalizability of this work. If Authentic Movement can be modified to address the various needs of those sustaining brain injury, its application and effect on neuroplasticity within the neuro-rehabilitation process, can be explored.

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