Dinghy, B.A. Psych., M.Ed., pioneered the first Master’s thesis on Dance therapy in her country. Her first encounter with DMT was at a conference run by the Japan Dance Therapist Association (JADTA) and following this she by organized the first Dance/Movement Therapy Workshops in her own country with overseas presenter from Israel, Ms. Na’ama Shklar. Dinghy has represented her country on the International Panel of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA), on several occasions. Dinghy works as a counsellor in the University of the Phillippines, Office of Anti- Sexual Harassment, is a Research Associate/Project Assistant at this university in the Center for Women’s Studies and is a Psychologist/Counsellor who works with Children with special needs as a therapist/counselor in private clinics. She incorporates DMT in her work with children in therapy in anger management and play therapy. She also conducts DMT activities for various target populations. These include children and women survivors of violence (rape, incest, trafficking) for NGOs, and poor communities as part of the VAWC intervention program; Stress Management Seminars for private sectors; and conducts regular advocacy on the power of dance as a Healing Art in the university.

Keywords
Psychotherapy research, Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale for Children, Movement Indicator Checklist for Sexually Abused Children, Trauma, body image, LMA, KMP

This research was a pioneering study in the Philippines on the use of Dance Movement therapy (DMT) in counselling sexually abused female children that were institutionalised in a government shelter. It was undertaken as a final fulfilment for an M.Ed., course at the University of the Philippines and was submitted in March 2005.

Dinghy pioneered the first Master’s thesis on Dance therapy in her country with this research that used purposive sampling with five girls (ages 6-9 years old) who attended ten DMT sessions over a period of two months. Discussion centres on the researcher’s intention to explore the nature of trauma for these girls as well as their movement characteristics, and the possible healing effects of DMT, specifically on their body image and self-concept. This successful study paves the way for further innovative and creative forms of psychotherapy for sexually abused children in the Phillipines. (pp 2-9)

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