Amanda, BA(Hons)Psych, MAAT, AThR,, gained her psychology degree from the University of Melbourne, and did extensive training in the USA in the Halprin Method, an integration of movement/dance, visual arts, performance techniques and therapeutic practices. She gained her MA Arts Therapy at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design (Auckland)*, investigating the use of video as an artistic and therapeutic medium. She is a registered psychologist and a movement-based expressive arts therapist, and has a private practice. Amanda has presented at conferences and symposia in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. She is director of the Masters of Arts in Arts Therapy (Clinical) programme at Whitecliffe College and is currently the president of ANZATA, the Australia and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association.

Keywords
intermodal, expressive arts therapy, flow, Csikszentimihalyi, phenomenological, mirror neuron theory, authentic movement

The Halprin method of movement-based expressive arts employs the modalities of movement and dance, expressive drawing and creative writing to facilitate the creation of self portrait dances connected to real life issues. Adding the medium of video to this process enables the dancer to view their expressive movement, and to create a tangible artefact, an edited video piece. In this study a single participant is facilitated in the creation of a video self-portrait. The thematic analysis reveals ‘authenticity’ as central, relating closely to other themes such as ‘freedom’. The making of a video self-portrait facilitates a therapeutic outcome – the participant has a strong emotional and kinaesthetic response to her video piece and her experiences of the
process correspond closely to Csikszentmihalyi’s model of a ‘flow experience’. (pp 18-27)

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