حرکت به سوی انسجام گروه: رقص / حرکت درمانی با کودکان در روانپزشکی

This paper describes dance/movement therapy (DMT) with children ages 5–8 on a short-term inpatient psychiatric unit in a major teaching hospital. The authors contend that DMT is a valuable treatment modality for creating cohesion in groups of children who have previously been chaotic and disorganized. They also contend that this sense of cohesion provides support, and a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere in which the children are able to work toward attaining therapeutic goals. The development of body image, self-awareness, and awareness of others are important components of DMT sessions described in this paper, and serve as the foundation upon which cohesion is built. To illustrate the effectiveness of DMT in promoting group cohesion, a specific session is described. Changes in behavior that were observed in the group, and on the unit, included improved impulse control, frustration tolerance, gratification delay, and ability to get along with others.

Short-term hospitalization serves an important function in the treatment of children with psychiatric disorders. However, this type of environment is fast-paced and constantly changing, especially in teaching hospitals where there are many rotating team members. The pace and changes in adult supervision from day to evening and day to day can seem chaotic and counter-therapeutic to children who are already disorganized. In the years that the authors worked in this setting, they found that dance/movement therapy (DMT) made a valuable treatment contribution by creating group cohesion that helped to minimize the negative effects of the environment, while enhancing treatment goals. This paper describes DMT work with children ages 5–8 on a short-term inpatient psychiatric unit in a major teaching hospital, and to this end, information is included on the setting, characteristics of short-term inpatient psychiatric treatment of children, and the therapeutic benefits of both cohesion and a “present moment,” “here-and-now” orientation. Finally, group DMT with children is discussed