Potential benefits of dance movement psychotherapy with couples experiencing infertility

This exploration – conducted through a mixed-method case study – considered potential for dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) to have positive impact on psychological, social, relational and emotional stress factors in couples experiencing infertility, increasing their ability to improve their quality of life and reach their fullest potential. The researcher considers the concept that for those experiencing infertility, their progression to their full potential in terms of anticipated and imagined life is interrupted. Reflecting on the DMP experience as a journey of self-creation, perhaps DMP can help clients look beyond whether they achieve a pregnancy or not, and re-imagine themselves, thus move towards actualisation of a new unmet potential. The purpose was to establish efficacy of further research into DMP intervention with this population.     

Treatment modalities and self-expectancy of therapists: Modes,self-efficacy and imagination of clients in dance movement therapy

Body movement is the primary medium in which dance/movement therapists help clients to connect with implicit experience, to tolerate and express emotion, and thereby to continuously re-work, re-weave and integrate embodied experiences of self. This article explores the role of non-verbal vocalisation within the overall movement ecology of the body, and suggests ways that it can support the aforementioned processes in clinical practice. Three existing frameworks for understanding the non-verbal voice are reviewed, from within and outside the realm of psychotherapy, as are several comprehensive theoretical studies of the ‘self’ in dance/movement therapy. The author emphasises that voice is an integral part of the body's cross-modal capacity for expressive movement, and suggests that the non-verbal voice prioritises and gives form to the emotional content of other bodily movement. This article aims to provide a theoretical starting place for integrating the non-verbal voice into dance/movement therapy scholarship and practice.     

Somatic soulmates

The author compares and contrasts a method of body-oriented psychotherapy, the Rubenfeld Synergy® method (RSM), with a method of dance/movement therapy, Authentic Movement (AM). She examines parallels in the development of authentic movement and body psychotherapy and discusses similarities in theory and practice. She makes a case for integration of dance/movement therapy and body-psychotherapy under the umbrella of somatic therapies. She uses her personal history, Ilana Rubenfeld's history, and case examples to illustrate her points.     

A psychoanalytic perspective of endings in therapy: A dance movement psychotherapy case study

This paper is an account of time-limited dance movement psychotherapy in an inner-city London school during my final year of training for an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy. I describe the treatment of a traumatised 9-year-old boy using psychoanalytic theories, in particular Winnicott's ideas. This patient suffered at an early age from the drastic separation of his father and, when he was 6 years of age, various dramatic events led to the hospitalisation of his mother due to psychiatric problems. The impending ending of the therapy and the trainee's repetition of a ‘neglectful transference’ triggered powerful memories of traumatic past separations, which aroused deep-seated anxieties in the patient and trainee alike. The work towards a ‘good enough’ ending in the new therapeutic relationship was of great value to the patient's recovery. Parallels are drawn with the trainee's feelings of ending her dance movement psychotherapy course.     

Orientating myself: A gay dance movement psychotherapist’s gender experience in training and practice

ABSTRACT

This paper offers a subjective account of the struggles and pleasures of being a gay dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) lecturer and therapist. The author shares stories of how this individual reality is informed by his life experience as a gay child and man. This gay intersubjective perspective of embodied therapeutic relationships posits a queer theory outlook that deviates from other DMP and embodied perspectives. The intention is to invite more critical reflection on diverse sexual and gender experience and relationships in the training and therapy space, in the hope of opening the door to more transparency with sexual orientation and gender diversity in the body, movement and dance in psychotherapy professions.     

Embodiment and embedment: integrating dance/movement therapy,body psychotherapy,and ecopsychology

This article presents a vision of an emergent ecosomatic psychology that integrates somatic psychology's theories and practices of embodiment with ecopsychology's insights about embedment. Branches within somatic psychology, dance/movement therapy, and body psychotherapy have honed therapeutic practices for embodying the self, engaging in embodied relationships, and opening up to possibilities of transpersonal experiences through the body and movement. Incorporating ecopsychology's emphasis on the development of an ecological identity, inspired by systems and relational views of health, and drawing from theories of participatory consciousness and reciprocity, an integrative framework of embodied embedment practices are proposed for developing an embodied ecological self.     

The cultural responsibility of dance movement therapy: philosophical considerations

This paper examines the cultural situation and special responsibility of dance movement therapy, delineating certain philosophical and cultural-theoretical interpretations of the ‘corporeal turn’ and ‘therapeutic turn’ of contemporary culture. It aims to show how dance movement therapy’s theoretical horizon is inseparable from the body-mind integration of contemporary philosophies, and how corporeal turn is present in consumer culture, including some of its destructive forms of idealisation and malign regression. The question of how DMT is able to turn malignant regression to the body into benign regression is addressed, and an analysis of the correlating postmodern idea of resilience is offered. Finally, DMT groups are interpreted as social microcosms, and the way Hungarian psychodynamic movement and dance therapists apply their group therapeutic method for the development of democratic culture in the Civil Group Project is described.     

Psychotherapy and schizophrenia: An analysis of requirements of individual psychotherapy with persons who experience manifestly barren or empty selves

Emerging views of schizophrenia emphasize that part of recovery involves persons reclaiming a sense of their own identity, agency and personal worth. While this intuitively seems a matter where psychotherapy might be uniquely useful, it raises the issue of how this should be facilitated particularly among persons who experience themselves as unable to engage in dialogue with others. In this article, we explore how integrative psychotherapy might address issues of self‐narrative and recovery from schizophrenia among persons experiencing, in particular profound levels of emptiness or barrenness. Illustrated with two case examples, we explore barriers posed to psychotherapy by clients' minimalist self‐presentations and describe three stages for integrative interventions that can revitalize dialogues within the client and between the client and others, ultimately enabling the reconstruction of a client's personal narrative within which a life plan might be articulated, guiding future action.     

Self-management support programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease: An integrative review

ObjectiveTo identify the characteristics of self-management programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease and the evidence for their effectiveness.MethodsAn integrative literature review was conducted. Studies describing the provision or outcomes of self-management interventions for persons with Parkinson’s disease and published in English were included. Two reviewers independently screened and evaluated articles. Interventions were described and compared, and evidence was presented using The Traffic Lighting system.ResultsEighteen interventions were identified, representing a variety of group- and individual-based interventions that differed in structure, components, and outcomes. Notably, 89% were designed specifically for persons with Parkinson’s disease and 39% combined self-management support with other therapies. Evidence to support specific self-management programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease was limited. However, a moderate quality systematic review and a good quality RCT supported self-management for improving specific domains of quality of life.ConclusionsA variety of interventions have been designed to support self-management by persons with Parkinson’s disease. More research is needed to identify key active ingredients and determine which programs are most effective.Practice implicationsSelf-management programs embedded within rehabilitation are promising. Clinicians should ensure programs include goal setting and problem solving and consider the inclusion of caregivers and peer support.     

Treating comorbid depression and avoidant personality disorder: The case of Andy

Major depressive disorder is among the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders and is often accompanied by other disorders such as anxiety or substance abuse. As a result of a complicated tangle of comorbidities, psychotherapy in such cases can become quite demanding. The present case study presents and discusses the challenges represented by a complex case of psychotherapy, focusing on ongoing modifications of the clinical hypotheses and therapeutic approach. This process is illustrated through the case of Andy, a 44-year-old man suffering from depressive disorder, social phobia, substance dependency, and an avoidant personality disorder. This case draws attention to the quality of the relationship and the flexibility and adaptation required from the therapist while depicting an integrative way of working therapeutically with complex cases.     

Age-related decrease of functional connectivity additional to gray matter atrophy in a network for movement initiation

Healthy aging is accompanied by a decrease in cognitive and motor capacities. In a network associated with movement initiation, we investigated age-related changes of functional connectivity (FC) as well as regional atrophy in a sample of 232 healthy subjects (age range 18–85 years). To this end, voxel-based morphometry and whole-brain resting-state FC were analyzed for the supplementary motor area (SMA), anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) and bilateral striatum (Str). To assess the specificity of age-related effects, bilateral primary sensorimotor cortex (S1/M1) closely associated with motor execution was used as control seeds. All regions showed strong reduction of gray matter volume with age. Corrected for this regional atrophy, the FC analysis revealed an age × seed interaction for each of the bilateral Str nodes against S1/M1 with consistent age-related decrease in FC with bilateral caudate nucleus and anterior putamen. Specific age-dependent FC decline of SMA was found in bilateral central insula and the adjacent frontal operculum. aMCC showed exclusive age-related decoupling from the anterior cingulate motor area. The present study demonstrates network as well as node-specific age-dependent FC decline of the SMA and aMCC to highly integrative cortical areas involved in cognitive motor control. FC decrease in addition to gray matter atrophy within the Str may provide a substrate for the declining motor control in elderly. Finally, age-related FC changes in both the network for movement initiation as well as the network for motor execution are not explained by regional atrophy in the healthy aging brain.     

Quality of life in patients with age-related macular degeneration with monocular and binocular legal blindness

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life for persons affected by age-related macular degeneration that results in monocular or binocular legal blindness. METHODS: An analytic transversal study using the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was performed. Inclusion criteria were persons of both genders, aged more than 50 years old, absence of cataracts, diagnosis of age-related monocular degeneration in at least one eye and the absence of other macular diseases. The control group was paired by sex, age and no ocular disease. RESULTS: Group 1 (monocular legal blindness) was composed of 54 patients (72.22% females and 27.78% males, aged 51 to 87 years old, medium age 74.61 +/- 7.27 years); group 2 (binocular legal blindness ) was composed of 54 patients (46.30% females and 53.70% males aged 54 to 87 years old, medium age 75.61 +/- 6.34 years). The control group was composed of 40 patients (40% females and 60% males, aged 50 to 81 years old, medium age 65.65 +/- 7.56 years). The majority of the scores were statistically significantly higher in group 1 and the control group in relation to group 2 and higher in the control group when compared to group 1. CONCLUSIONS: It was evident that the quality of life of persons with binocular blindness was more limited in relation to persons with monocular blindness. Both groups showed significant impairment in quality of life when compared to normal persons.     

Influence of aging on cortical activity associated with a visuo-motor task

The aim of this study was to determine how cerebral aging influences the pattern of cortical oscillatory activity when a targeting movement with visual control is planned. Changes in cortical oscillatory activity were assessed by recording the event-related (de)synchronization (ERD/S) of micro and beta rhythms. Young and elderly subjects performed a distal movement, a proximal movement and a visuo-guided targeting movement. Our results demonstrated an increase in micro ERD over ipsilateral regions and showed the spatial extent of micro ERD over parietocentral and parietal regions during motor planning in elderly subjects compared to young ones. After the movement, the beta ERS was significantly modified (a decrease in slope and amplitude) in elderly subjects. The most pronounced age-related changes in ERD/S pattern were observed for the targeting movement. Our results suggest that motor planning is less efficient in elderly subjects. This deficit might result from impaired parietal integrative function and/or changes in inputs from subcortical structures. Subsequently, the changes observed in the post-movement phase might reflect a decrease in (reafferent) sensory inputs and hence impaired their input processing.     

Aging in Prader-Willi syndrome: twelve persons over the age of 50 years

The life expectancy of persons with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) has increased in recent years. Because of the paucity of reports on older persons with PWS, the natural history, the onset, and type of age-related problems are poorly understood. Twelve persons with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of PWS aged over 50 years are described (4 deletion; 8 mUPD). Data on physical, behavioral, psychiatric, and aging characteristics were collected through semi-structured interviews with the individuals with PWS and their main carers. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dermatological, and orthopedic problems were common physical complaints in older people with PWS. Functioning in activities of daily living, psychological functioning, physical functions, and care dependence were substantially worse in the older age group (50+) compared to the control group (18-49 years). Seven out of eight persons with mUPD had a history of psychiatric illness. Behavioral problems were observed in the older age group. Given the combination of age-related physical morbidity, physical appearance, behavioral and psychiatric problems, and functional decline in our cohort, we hypothesize that premature aging occurs in PWS. The care for older people with PWS requires a lifespan approach that recognizes the presence, progression, and consequences of specific morbidity. Special medical surveillance of people with PWS from 40 years onwards would ensure that intervention and support is offered with respect to specific areas of decline at the earliest possible time.     

Launch of Body,Movement & Dance in Psychotherapy

This article explores time-limited dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) with a female offender diagnosed with borderline personality disorder looking particularly at the development of the therapeutic relationship and attachment theory. DMP can help increase the ‘capacity to think’ and provide alternative approaches for managing emotions opposed to ‘acting out’ difficulties in relating. The therapeutic relationship in DMP can provide a containing, holding environment in the absence of healthy attachments, early experiences of deprivation and trauma. Laban Movement Analysis, psychodynamic and mentalisation approaches were used to underpin the assessment, formulation and therapeutic interventions.     

Psychosomatic medicine today: an overview.

The current status of several areas of interest in psychosomatic medicine, including specificity theory, life changes, and peptic ulcers, is reviewed, and their relevance to the practice of psychosomatic medicine discussed. The importance of neuro-psychopharmacological research to psychosomatic medicine is stressed, and a perspective is given on the usefulness of drugs in conjunction with intensive psychotherapy.     

Developing a Psychosomatic Imagination in Medical Students and Psychotherapy Trainees

How can we help medical students and psychotherapy trainees to develop an awareness of the mind in relation to the body, so that both can develop a psychosomatic imagination? This is an exploration of some of the difficulties that medical students have in appreciating the role of emotions in illness and of the difficulties psychotherapy trainees have in considering the importance of the body in psychotherapeutic work with patients with physical symptoms. Student Balint discussion groups and student psychotherapy schemes give clinical medical students the opportunity to explore their own and their patients’ emotional reactions to illness and to learn about the interplay of emotions with the body in physical illness. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is now encouraging the development of such Balint groups and/or psychotherapy schemes in all UK medical schools. Psychotherapy trainees studying the effects of emotions in psychosomatic illnesses often have difficulty in learning how to interpret physical symptoms that occur in psychotherapy. They tend to want to see such symptoms as having symbolic meaning and find it hard to appreciate the medical logic of physical illness. It is important that some medical understanding of these conditions is also included in seminars on psychosomatic conditions.