View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Drexel Libraries E-Repository and Archives AN EXAMINATION OF DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPISTS’ APPROACHES TO THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE/ALCOHOLIC POPULATION: AN INTERVIEW STUDY Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Nursing and Health Professions Drexel University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts By Kristin Tillotson, B.F.A Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program Dance/Movement Therapy December 2007 ABSTRACT 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, i 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. ii Acknowledgements I would like to give a special thanks to my advisors: Gayle Gates, Chair of my thesis committee, Anne Margrethe Melsom, and Leslie Glass. Gayle, thank you for your continuous support and patience and late night calls through this whole process. Anne Margrethe, thank you for all your time, insight, patience, support, and encouragement. Leslie, thank you for your grammatical wisdom, addiction knowledge and advice throughout this year. Thank you to the staff and women at Chances who helped keep me inspired through my last year at Drexel. I would like to give my deepest gratitude to my family. Thank you for the inspiration to follow my dreams to dance. Without your support, encouragement, unconditional love, and believing in me, this would not have been possible. To Faith, follow your dreams and passion - you can do anything you put your mind to, I will be there for you. Finally, I would like to thank Iman for having patience with my busy school schedule, for being by my side through the most difficult times, giving me strength, love, and having confidence in me to do anything I set my heart to you. Thank you for everything you give me. iii Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………….…. ii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………iii List of Tables………………………………………………………………. ix Chapter 1 Introduction………………………………………………… 1 Chapter 2 Literature Review……………………………………….…..5 Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 5 Alcohol and Drug Abuse Definition………………………………..….. 5 Alcohol and Drug Dependence Definition……………………………... 6 Statistics on Substance Abuse………………………………………….. 7 Etiology…………………………………………………………………. 7 Physical Dependency vs. Psychological Dependency Theories…….8 Genetic Theory……………………………………..……………….10 Learning Theory……………………………………………………. 10 Personality Theory…………………………………………………. 11 Sociological Theory………………………………………………... 12 Disease Model……………………………………………………… 12 Impact of Alcohol and Drugs…………………………………………….. 13 Physical Effects of Alcohol………………………………………... 13 Physical Effects of Drugs…………………………………………...14 Psychological Effects of Alcohol…………………………………... 15 Psychological Effects of Drugs…………………………………….. 16 Treatment Approaches………………………………………………….... 16 iv Stages of Recovery………………………………………………… 17 Matrix Model………………………………………………………. 18 Treatment Models of Substance Abuse Programs……………………..… 19 Motivational Enhancement Therapy………………………………. 19 Stages of Change……………………………………………………20 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy……………………………………... 21 Minnesota Model……………………………………….………….. 22 Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous………………..23 Women For Sobriety…………………………………………….…. 24 Creative Arts Therapy and Substance Abuse……………………………. 25 Research applying CAT to Substance Abuse……………………… 25 Dance/Movement Therapy………………………………………………. 28 General Concepts of D/MT……………………………………….. 30 Psychosocial Aspects Addressed in DMT…………………………. 31 Healing Processes of D/MT………………………………………... 33 Common Goals of D/MT …………………………………………. 35 Structural Phases of a D/MT Session…………………………….…36 Research Applying D/MT to Substance Abuse……………….…… 38 Chapter 3 Website Review……………………………………………. 44 Impact of Alcohol and Drugs………………………………………….… 45 Treatment Approaches…………………………………………………... 47 Chapter 4 Methodology……………………………………………….. 49 v Design of Study………………………………………………………….. 49 Location of Study……………………………………………………….... 49 Time Period of Study……………………………………………………. 49 Enrollment Information…………………………………………….……. 50 Recruitment ……………………………………………………………... 50 Subject Inclusion Criteria……………………………………….……….. 50 Subject Exclusion Criteria …………………………………….………… 50 Special Precautions………………………………………………………. 50 Table Participants Demographics………………………………….. 52 Procedures………………………………………………………………... 54 Instrumentation…………………………………………………….. 54 Data Collection…………………………………………………….. 55 Questions for Interview………….…………………………….. 56 Website Reference……………………………………………. 58 Data Analysis………………………………………………………. 58 Chapter 5 Results……………………………………………………… 60 Three Main Themes of Thesis ………………………………………….. 60 Main Themes Table……………………………………………….. 62 Goals of Treatment …………………………………………………….... 62 Goals of Treatment Table …………………………………………. 63 Commonly Shared Interventions/Techniques…………………………... 64 Commonly Shared Table………………………………………...… 64 Breath Work……………………………………………………..… 65 vi Imagery and Metaphor………………………………………..…… 65 Verbalization………………………………………………………. 65 Commonly Shared Interventions/Techniques Table ………………. 66 Unique DMT Interventions/Techniques and Table……………………… 66 Interview Tables From Interview…………………………………. 68 Three Main Areas of Focus in DMT………………………………... 77 Body Level…………………………………………………………. 78 Movement Repertoire ……………………………………………... 78 Relationships in Movement ……………………………………….. 79 Integration of Treatment Models…………………………………….….. 79 Integration Table…………………………………………………… 80 Chapter 6 Discussion………………………………………………….. 81 Body Level and Awareness of Self………………………………... 82 Movement Repertoire and Change in Behavior………………..….. 88 Relationships in Movement and Relationships…………………….. 96 Goals of Treatment………………………………………………… 101 Integration of Treatment Models…………………………………... 101 Practical Applications……………………………………………………… 104 Researchers Reflective Notes……………………………………………… 104 Limitations…………………………………………………………….…. 105 Implications for Further Research………………………….……………. 106 Chapter 7 Summary and Conclusion…………………………………. 107 Chapter 8 References………………….……………………………… 110 vii Chapter 9 Appendixes…………………………………………………. 120 viii List of Tables 1. Participant Demographics………………………………………………………. 52 2. Interview Questionnaire………………………………………………………..... 56 3. Three Main Themes of Thesis…………………………………………………..