An Exploration of Dance/Movement Therapy for Asian American Clients with Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The research objective of this thesis was to describe the dance/movement therapy (DMT) process as it developed with a Chinese American client with depressive symptoms. One participant was recruited to participate in this qualitative case study, which was comprised of an initial interview process, three DMT sessions with subsequent journaling and discussion time, and a final interview to obtain the participant’s reflections on her experience with the DMT. Five sources of data were collected, including the researcher’s notes from the initial interview; researcher field notes, participant journal entries, and a transcription of the discussions between researcher and participant from each of the three DMT sessions; and then a transcription from the final interview. The study found 6 themes, including: (a) the development of the therapeutic relationship, (b) the importance of dedicating time to understanding, (c) DMT as a support in expressing and accepting feelings, (d) valuing and experiencing relaxation and release, (e) the preference for a structured and solution-based therapeutic approach, and (f) Chinese culture and views on mental health. The findings suggest that dance/movement therapy may be a culturally congruent form of therapy for Chinese Americans with depressive symptoms and that it may provide an alternative method for expressing and releasing feelings that are discouraged from being verbalized.%%%%M.A., Creative Arts in Therapy – Drexel University, 2012