Date of Award
8-16-2017
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
Brown, Andrea
Keywords
power, embodied power, relational-cultural theory, dance/movement therapy
Abstract
This qualitative embodied artistic inquiry self-study explored how I used my embodied power in an ethical and intentional way as a dance/movement therapist and illustrated how I experienced my embodied power as informed by relational-cultural theory. At the time of the study, I was a 24-year-old, White, female identified, Midwestern, second-year dance/movement therapy and counseling graduate student. Data were collected through five authentic movement sessions with a trained authentic movement practitioner. Data analysis took the form of creative synthesis through embodied writing passages following each authentic movement session. Results included a journey of self-compassion through a growing movement repertoire, which led to self-acceptance, ownership of the past, and choice. Implications demonstrated the importance of therapists exploring theoretical frameworks that align with or challenge one’s worldview, and continuously engaging in introspective exploration of one’s racial identity.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Rot, Sarah C., "Stepping In: My Experience of Embodied Power Through the Relations-Cultural Framework" (2017). Creative Arts Therapies Theses. 96.
https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/theses_dmt/96