An examination of dance/movement therapists' approaches to the treatment of substance abuse/alcoholic population

The average alcohol consumption for Americans over the age of 14 is three gallons of pure alcohol per person per year. The lifetime prevalence of alcoholism in the United States is about thirteen percent in the United States (Volpicelli 1997). Alcohol and illegal drug use often have close ties with one another. In 2004 the amount of alcohol consumption was strongly associated with illicit drug use in 2004 (SAMHSA). Consequently, finding effective treatment approaches present important challenges for therapists various modalities. The purpose of this study is to examine how Dance/Movement Therapists utilize and adapt Dance/Movement Therapy (D/MT) techniques and interventions in treating this population. The secondary purpose of this thesis was to examine how Dance/Movement Therapists integrate existing substance abuse treatment models and support systems into their own clinical work. Current research and literature in the Dance/Movement Therapy field that identify and/or clarify current treatment approaches in substance abuse and alcoholism are limited. The research design that best fit the research question stated above was a collective case study. The researcher interviewed Dance/Movement Therapists who work with the substance abuse population concerning their use of D/MT theory, and interventions, and techniques with this population. Data analysis included triangulation of interview narrative, literature review, and website review. Data was presented in both narrative form and in chart form. This study also includes a literature review, as well as,web site reviews of treatment programs and philosophies. The results of the study focused on themes from the literature review, website review and the interview data. As the researcher examined the multiple sources of data from this thesis, the evidence indicates that there are common themes throughout the literature and interview. The researcher examined data and categorized similarities into three important themes that must be considered when working with this population. These main themes of the drug and alcohol treatment include (a)Awareness of Self, (b) Behavioral Change, and (c)Relationships. Further analysis of the D/MT data reveal that there are three major categories identified by Dance/Movement Therapists' when working with this population. They are (a) Body Level, (b) Movement Repertoire, and (c) Relationships in Movement. The results then were summarized and presented in the discussion section of this thesis. The results suggest dance/movement therapy uniquely address similar goals in which the researcher through the body and nonverbal interventions/techniques the same psychosocial issues of the substance abuser. The findings also confirm that the participants in the interview were all aware of other current treatment models and often integrated them in their treatment programs. This thesis has provided an opportunity to examine the impact of different substance abuse treatment models on dance/movement therapists' work with this population. Significantly the results also highlight the importance of D/MT's complimentary yet unique approach to the treatment of the substance abuse population. Hopefully in the future Dance/Movement Therapists can provide understanding and awareness to other clinicians, therapist and treatment settings regarding valuable contribution that D/MT can make to this population.