Moving Towards Wellness in Long-term Care: Considerations for Dementia-Associated Aggression, Abstract Dementia is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative condition expected to affect over 13 million Americans by 2050 (Mitchell et al. in N Engl J Med 361:1529–1538, 2009) and 132 million individuals worldwide (Prince et al. in Alzheimer’s Res Ther 8(1):23, 2016). Characterized by cognitive and physical loss and change, and loss of one’s sense of self, this illness significantly impairs the ability to communicate needs and discomfort successfully; aggressive behaviors are common and may affect overall well-being. Dementia-associated aggression often leads to care facility placement, may contribute to care partner burden, and significantly increases healthcare costs. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) influences physical, psychological, and cognitive behavior, supports productive self-expression, and helps to improve quality of life. This article sheds light on some challenges within the long-term care environment and affirms that DMT, as a complementary approach, is a beneficial, cost-efficient, and non-pharmacologic modality for the treatment of dementia-associated aggression for older adults in these settings.

Ghosts in the Bedroom: Embodiment Wishes in Couple Sexuality: Qualitative Research and Practical Application Abstract Theories about embodied knowledge have emphasized the importance of familiarity with the socio-physical aspect of sexuality. The present study examines the kind of embodiment knowledge that contributes to the formation of wishes in intimate physical interaction in the couple relationship. Nine couples (n = 18) participated in 12 sessions of dance/movement therapy for couples (DMT-C). The sessions were documented on video and in personal diaries. Two themes emerged from movement experience: (a) a wish for security and (b) a wish for the partner to be magically compatible. In the discussion section, the contribution the results make to knowledge on physical intimacy will be addressed.

Essentials of Dance Movement Psychotherapy: International Perspectives on Theory, Research and Practice

The Meaning of Movement

Editors’ Note

Book Review: Dance/Movement Therapists in Action: A Working Guide to Research Options (3rd Edition)

Seubert, A., & Virdi, P. (eds.): Trauma Informed Approaches to Eating Disorders

Embodiment and Eating Disorders: Theory, Research, Prevention and Treatment, edited by Hillary L. McBride and Janelle L. Kwee

History, Roots and Future Horizons Abstract Presented as a workshop at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ADTA conference in San Diego, this article describes a workshop that was designed to help participants navigate through multiple identities in dance/movement therapy and psychotherapy. In the article and in the workshop, the authors share their professional journeys and then use movement to guide participants through theirs. Dance/movement therapy originated in the United States in the 1900s through private apprenticeship and master’s level trainings. As the work and training developed internationally, however, some dance/movement therapists began to seek advanced education for psychotherapy and doctoral research, use sophisticated technology, and practice in diverse settings. How will we integrate this new education and how does this shape our professional identities? In an era of changing healthcare reimbursements and new professional choices, it is time to again look at core values and identity of our practice, and help dance movement therapists create professional identities and choices.

Stillness in Dance/Movement Therapy: Potentiating Creativity on the Edge and in the Void Abstract Creativity, at times, flows freely amongst individuals. However, at other times, creativity waivers on the edge of meaning and nothingness. This manuscript explores Eastern and Western philosophies associated with void, the thin line between dialectical phenomena, and a space which opens up for creativity. These theories of creativity will be observed through a dance/movement therapy (DMT) paradigm examining the concept of stillness within movement and particularly within a DMT session. A brief review of the following phenomena will be considered: the fertile void, the dialectical edge, and potential space. Consideration will be given to the notion of stillness as a tool for creativity in DMT and supported by case vignettes.