Approaches used in dance/movement therapy with adult women incest survivors

American Journal of Dance Therapy volume 17, pages15–24(1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Little has been written about dance/movement therapy approaches used in assisting adult women incest survivors in their recovery. Five San Francisco Bay area dance/movement therapists, who specialize in this population, were interviewed. Each therapist answered five open-ended questions about her background and theoretical framework, approaches used, and issues observed. The answers revealed a high degree of congruence with each other and with current incest literature. Four therapists used some type of Jungian, Gestalt, or Authentic Movement framework, and one used Blanche Evan's constructs. Issues of assertiveness, body image, sexuality, and boundaries were common themes. Safety, trust, and shame issues were stressed by all therapists.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

US$ 39.95

Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Bass. E., & Davis, L. (1988).The Courage to Heal. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Blume, E.S. (1990).Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and its Aftereffects in Women. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bernstein, P.L. (Ed.). (1979).Eight Theoretical Approaches in Dance Movement Therapy. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Briere, J. (1989).Therapy for Adults Molested as Children: Beyond Survival. New York: Springer Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Briere, J. (1993). Childhood sexual abuse: long term sequelae and implications for psychological assessment.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 312–330.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cohen, F.W., & Phelps, R.E. (1985). Incest markers in children's artwork.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 12, 265–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cole, C.H., Barney, E.E. (1987). Safeguards and the therapeutic window: a group treatment strategy for adult incest survivors.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 601–609.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cole, P.M., Woolger, C., Power, T.G., & Smith, K.D. (1992). Parenting difficulties among adult survivors of father-daughter incest.Child Abuse & Neglect, 16, 239–249.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Davies, J.M., & Frawley, M.G. (1994).Treating the Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse. New York, Basic Books, p. 28.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Furniss, T. (1991).The Multi-Professional Handbook of Child Sexual Abuse. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gil, E. (1988).Treatment of Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse. Walnut Creek: Launch Press.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson, D.R. (1987). The role of the creative arts therapies in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 14, 7–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Joy, S. (1987). Retrospective presentations of incest: treatment strategies for use with adult women.Journal of Counseling and Development, 65, 317–319.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mackay, B., Gold, M., & Gold, E. (1987). A pilot study in drama therapy with adolescent girls who have been sexually abused.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 14, 77–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Maltz, W. (1988). Identifying and treating the sexual repercussions of incest: a couples therapy approach.Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 14, 142–170.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pribor, E.F., & Dinwiddie, S.H. (1992). Psychiatric correlates of incest in childhood.American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 52–56.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schechter, M.D., & Roberge, C. (1976). Sexual Exploitation. In R.E. Helfer & C.H. Kempe (Eds),Child Abuse and Neglect: The Family and the Community. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sidun, N.M., & Rosenthal, R.H. (1987). Graphic indicators of sexual abuse in draw-a-person tests of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 14, 25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Swink, K.K., & Leveille, A.E. (1986). From victim to survivor: a new look at the issues and recovery process for adult incest survivors.Women and Therapy, 5, 119–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Talmadge, L. Dykes, & Wallace, S.C. (1991). Reclaiming sexuality in female incest survivors.Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 17, 163–182.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wheeler, B.L. (1987). The use of paraverbal therapy in treating an abused child.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 14, 69–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Leia N. Ambra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This article grew out of Dance/Movement coursework performed under the direction of Dr. Cynthia Berrol at California State University, Hayward. I gratefully acknowledge each of the interviewed therapists for their time, enthusiasm, and helpful editing changes: Tina Stromsted, Tannis Hugill, Sandy Dibbell-Hope, Anandha Ray, and Bonnie Bernstein. I thank Dr. Cynthia Berrol for her valuable editing and re-editing, encouragement, and, above all, her confidence, and Leigh Halloweigh, PT, MS, for her time, suggestions, and interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ambra, L.N. Approaches used in dance/movement therapy with adult women incest survivors. Am J Dance Ther 17, 15–24 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02251323

Download citation

Keywords

  • Social Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Body Image
  • Common Theme
  • Adult Woman