Movement Therapy Techniques and Therapeutic Holding With Children

This study investigated the effect of incorporating
Dance/Movement Therapy techniques before and after
standard physical restraint procedures for violence
prevention in order to increase effectiveness of the
intervention. Effectiveness is defined as improved
therapeutic dynamics and empathy between the
participants. This study was conducted at the Terry
Children s Psychiatric Center in New Castle,
Delaware, USA. Participants included children and
staff. Children were asked about their experiences
in therapeutic holds in order to qualitatively
document their experience and inform the Workshop.
Adult participants attended a four-hour
Dance/Movement Therapy Training Workshop to learn to
integrate Dance/Movement Therapy techniques with
normal restraint procedures. Pre and Post
intervention information was gathered using a mixed
methodology approach, incorporating both
quantitative and qualitative methods. A model of
the Dance/Movement Therapy training course was
developed and executed as a project. It was found
that the D/MT training increased adult empathy,
awareness, and confidence in the procedure.

Autorentext

Heather Lundy, MA, DTR, RYT is a movement therapist, life coach, and choreographer. Heather is devoted to the therapeutic application of the arts. She has Masters Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Hahnemann University. She is a licensed Action Theater instructor, yoga teacher, researcher, and performer. www.improvdiva.com

Klappentext

This study investigated the effect of incorporating Dance/Movement Therapy techniques before and after standard physical restraint procedures for violence prevention in order to increase effectiveness of the intervention. Effectiveness is defined as improved therapeutic dynamics and empathy between the participants. This study was conducted at the Terry Children's Psychiatric Center in New Castle, Delaware, USA. Participants included children and staff. Children were asked about their experiences in therapeutic holds in order to qualitatively document their experience and inform the Workshop. Adult participants attended a four-hour Dance/Movement Therapy Training Workshop to learn to integrate Dance/Movement Therapy techniques with normal restraint procedures. Pre and Post intervention information was gathered using a mixed methodology approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. A model of the Dance/Movement Therapy training course was developed and executed as a project. It was found that the D/MT training increased adult empathy, awareness, and confidence in the procedure.