An Enquiry into the Therapeutic Dance
Keywords
MIECAT, heuristic inquiry, phenomenological, constructivist, intersubjective, post-positivist, research, therapeutic relationship
This is an excerpt from the content:
“Virginia completed a Masters by Supervision with the Melbourne Institute for Expressive and Creative Arts Therapies (MIECAT). This article is based on phenomenological research towards the Masters award. Virginia states: “The research project took the form of an enquiry into my own processes as a dance therapist working individually with my client – in the style of a heuristic enquiry in phenomenological research, looking into an understanding of how a dance therapy process works for me as the therapist.” Research methods using a MIECAT form of inquiry with her client presenting with symptoms of anorexia, are discussed in depth, encompassing the therapist’s theoretical approach. The therapist’s personal characteristics, beliefs, values and experiences influencing her as a therapist are connected to her experience of ‘companioning’ her client, with reference to therapeutic approaches such as: bracketing, resonance/dissonance and transference/countertransference. (pp 16-24)