Keywords
attachment, dance-movement therapy, mother-toddler dyad, trusting
Page #: 151
This case study is about the development of a trusting attachment between a dance therapist and a mother- toddler dyad. The child, Chloe*, was referred to dance movement therapy following the death of her four year old sister, Bea*, in a car accident. Chloe’s normal development, in particular her language skills, deteriorated. It was the mother’s diagnosis that her relationship to the child was profoundly interrupted by grief. Although the mother attended to her basic needs, she was emotionally unavailable to Chloe. The development of a deep secure attachment between the therapist and the dyad contributed to their facing, enduring and healing the grief. Chloe’s language skills developed over two years and she was able to speak about the trauma.