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Turning Towards Multicultural Diversity Competence in Dance/Movement Therapy

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Abstract

Over the last decade psychotherapists have improved their clinical competence to better meet the needs and goals of marginalized populations by reforming guidelines, implementing educational requirements, and shedding a spotlight on potential areas of bias within the therapist-client relationship. The role of nonverbally orientated cultural competence, however, has remained under-researched. Therefore, this qualitative study is designed to better understand dance/movement therapy’s approach toward multicultural diversity competence and to discern and acknowledge the skills, both verbal and nonverbal, currently used by experienced therapists. Several therapeutic skills and considerations for improvements in the field are highlighted, including the need for continued research.

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Notes

  1. During in vivo coding direct words and short phrases, exactly as they were said, were analyzed.

  2. In descriptive coding researcher summarized in a word or short phrase the principle idea in an excerpt of dialogue.

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  1. Dance/Movement Therapy and Body Psychotherapy, Somatic Counseling Psychology, Naropa University, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA

    Nova Golonka Carmichael

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  1. Nova Golonka Carmichael
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Correspondence to Nova Golonka Carmichael.

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Golonka Carmichael, N. Turning Towards Multicultural Diversity Competence in Dance/Movement Therapy. Am J Dance Ther 34, 99–113 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-012-9140-z

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