Integration of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Adulthood Through Dance Movement Therapeutic Techniques
Abstract
Expanding knowledge about how to self-regulate when faced with challenging circumstances has the potential to benefit individuals and communities, especially in our post-pandemic environment with increasing needs for mental health support. This thesis provides a psychoeducational basis for use of dance movement therapeutic techniques to integrate adverse childhood experiences. The literature review refines an understanding of big T and little t trauma as it relates to mental illness, polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, the window of tolerance, body armoring, somatic psychotherapy, trauma- informed care, adverse childhood experiences and post-traumatic growth. This thesis culminates in a personal arts-based autoethnography informed by the theoretical framework summarized by Pierce (2014) to work with individuals through a three-phase dance movement therapy practice to process trauma-related content. The author collaborates with a photographer who used the “pop and blur” technique to capture a trail of light evident in the image to illustrate the somatic energy within the movement in a static, preserved and visually intriguing manner. Future applications of this arts ethnography will benefit therapists, educators and anyone who desires to process adverse childhood experiences. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, Adverse Childhood Experiences, psychological effects, long term effects, PTSD, treatment
Citation
Hoj, Kimberly. (2022). Integration of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Adulthood Through Dance Movement Therapeutic Techniques (Masters thesis). Lesley University.