Date of Award
12-9-2016
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
Young, Jessica
Keywords
dance/movement therapy, countertransference, heuristic, therapeutic, domestic violence, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD.
Abstract
The purpose of this heuristic inquiry was to discover how my countertransference informed my clinical internship experience. My research questions were: How does my countertransference inform my therapeutic relationships while working with survivors of domestic violence? How does my countertransference impact my clinical choices and my development as a dance/movement therapist? Data was collected through semi-structured journal entries that included both writing and art-making; this occurred three times per week during the last five weeks of my internship. I analyzed data sequentially through creative synthesis with a research consultant once per week, which began two weeks after data collection. Findings include increased awareness of my emotional and physical responses during sessions: retreating when my emotional safety was threatened and increased Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms when clients were not grounded within the sessions. My ADHD symptoms made it difficult for me to be in a present relationship with my clients. 80 pages.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
DeCotiis, Donna, "Unraveling and Understanding the Therapeutic Self: A Heuristic Inquiry on Countertransference" (2016). Creative Arts Therapies Theses. 70.
https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/theses_dmt/70