Treatment resistant depression: a critical reflection on missing oral narratives in dance therapy literature

Abstract

South Asian narratives are underrepresented in dance movement psychotherapy academia. Systematically supporting more anecdotal literature on utilising the body’s innate wisdom in illness prevention and treatment is essential to support equitable accommodation of oral narratives. In this critical reflection, I have integrated my emerging perspectives as a member of the South Asian diaspora, a clinician who has trained and worked within the medical model and an early career researcher. I present two anecdotal themes and brief case examples relevant to contemplating the value of oral narratives within dance movement psychotherapy. They are: (1) embodied storytelling as a way of building emotional intelligence, and (2) intuition as a way of trusting one’s bodily cues in individuals.