Dear Readers,
Welcome to the summer issue of our journal. There is an undeniable sense of pride while looking at the articles included here. Pride how the themes and author’s cultures printed here seem to fly in the face of historic 'realities’ once taken for granted. Namely, that psychotherapy at its origin, and for much if its history focused on and mirrored, Western middle class with an inevitably narrow cultural reach and appeal.
In contrast, the articles in this issue show an encouraging cultural width and breath, a very welcome contrast that gives hope for the future of our professions. Whatever we may think of globalisation, culturally informed perspectives can only benefit the field, making it more relevant and accessible for clients and therapists alike.
Our first article challenges the ‘human-centricity’ in current society at the expense of our connection to the natural environment. This contribution by Jill Bunce and Christina Gougouli from the UK and Greece respectively is titled “An exploration of the relationship between the arts, awareness of nature and dance movement psychotherapy” and seeks to explore the nature-body-mind split. The article draws on Greek and transpersonal philosophy to highlight the contribution creativity gives to meaning and connection-making and explores how our senses may shape perception in modern societies commonly ruled by unimaginative utilitarian and economic perspectives. Our relationship with the natural world inevitably shapes the environmental crisis we live in which is simultaneously a psychological crisis of disconnectedness.
The next article, “Dance/movement therapy pedagogy with Japanese psychology graduate students: facing 'haji’” by Miho Yamada from Japan and Tomoyo Kawano from the US, explores the influence of cultural traits on movement self-expression. The authors consider how substantial cultural differences around norms such as sense of self, interoceptive awareness and dance/movement inform socially accepted behaviour. The article is based on a small initial study which suggests that the Japanese cultural trait ‘haji’ may manifest as a barrier to self-expression when participants may feel ashamed or embarrassed to reveal their feelings and thoughts. However, the authors also observe that cultural adaptations may be prove beneficial for dance/movement therapy groups and recommend further in-depth study of such influences in DMT/DMP.
Koh Woon Kim from South Korea and Tomoyo Kawano from the US contribute Korean and Japanese perspectives with their article “A critical reflection on movement observation and assessment through the lens of a Korean spirit-dance”. Dance movement psychotherapy evolved within Judeo-Christian worldviews along with associated paradigms of observing and assessing movement note the authors. They examine Korean traditional dance motifs and propose to expand such ideas with perspectives originating from Eastern, Confucian or Korean traditions which may, for example, frame how, and what, movement we see. This cross-cultural critical reflection aims to stimulate dialogue and collaboration towards more nuanced and culturally sensitive DMP conceptualisations.
The trip around the world continues with a visit to India to consider “Dance movement therapy, yoga, and older adults with Parkinson’s disease”. Samta Pandya from Mumbai describes a dance movement therapy group that incorporated a study that compares dance movement therapy with an ‘enhanced’ version of dance movement therapy. The latter integrated yoga and aimed to not only impact on psychological improvements but also targeted confidence in balance for people with Parkinson’s disease. Both groups had positive impacts on all the outcomes measured, especially for older women. However, the importance of this study, for us, is the fact that yoga, an ancient practice rooted in India was integrated into the DMT practice. Furthermore, the study attempted to address particular needs present in this client group, signifying a departure from a therapist’s centric approach to the work in which needs associated with culture or in this case also the disease, are sacrificed in the alter of predominant, and often oppressive, practices, history, and long-standing dogmas.
Back in Europe in the reflections section included in this issue, Ana-Luisa Meza-Ferraria and team explore similar themes in their piece. Reviewing the history of the Spanish Dance Movement Therapy Association, they describe how the association grew from a place where there was an extensive reliance on pioneers from other countries to their current position as an established member of the European Association for Dance Movement Therapy and a bridge to Latin America.
The last of our papers for this issue shifts our attention to online education, maybe yet, another culture different from the in-person culture in which we are so familiar. Mariah LeFeber and team from the USA describe how dance movement therapy educators engaged with a hybrid-online educational delivery during the pandemic, attempting to tackle complex aspects of embodied learning. Outcomes from this is turned into suggestions for future clinical practices and research ideas, once again, challenging existing dogmas.
We finish this issue with two book reviews:
Agnes Law from the UK contributes a review of the book ‘Embodied approaches to supervision – The listening body’ edited by Céline Butté and Tasha Colbert published by Routledge in 2023. The review highlights ethnic minority perspectives, as well as other potentially marginalised experiences. Supervision provides opportunities to observe and notice ‘blind spots’ which may for instance reflect cultural bias with which the reviewer agrees and highlights the value of lived experience or stories brought into the supervisory space.
Gill Westland, also from the UK, reviews a classic book by Ruella Frank called ‘The bodily roots of experience in psychotherapy’ that brings the psychotherapeutic experience back to the body. This, and the diverse papers presented in this issue, reminds us of the innovative work that our disciplines occupy, calling for a push into existing boundaries and professional definitions that are both meaningful and decolonised.
We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did.