Creative Arts Therapies Theses

Date of Award

8-10-2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

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

Department

Creative Arts Therapies

First Advisor

Imus, Susan

Second Advisor

Downey, Laura

Third Advisor

Combs, Kristy

Keywords

dance/movement therapy, arts, embodied awareness, somatic countertransference, children, sexual abuse, choreography, performance

Abstract

This thesis is an arts-based research project exploring how a new clinician developed an informed clinical practice through gaining embodied awareness of somatic countertransference when working with children who had experienced sexual abuse. Through embodied movement sessions, choreography, and public performance, a dance was created presenting a collection of movement qualities that reflected this author’s somatic countertransference experiences that were had during her time at her internship. A review of literature was conducted on the development of an informed clinical practice for dance/movement therapists, somatic countertransference, 95 pages. embodiment, and artistic inquiry used in research. A description of this project’s methods and results are included in this written thesis.

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