Becoming visible as a profession in a climate of competitiveness: The role of research

Meekums, Bonnie

doi:10.1080/17432979.2014.885912

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…Without a demand from employers, not surprisingly, DM therapists are less compelled to invest in time-consuming assessment processes. This lack of impetus from others can be compounded by ambivalence from some practitioners about the desirability of an outcome focus in their work (Meekums, 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcome-Focused Dance Movement Therapy Assessment Enhanced by iPad App MARA

Dunphy

Hens²

2018

Front. Psychol.

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Healthcare and human services are increasingly required to demonstrate effectiveness and efficiency of their programs, with assessment and evaluation processes more regularly part of activity cycles. New approaches to service delivery, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) scheme in Australia, require outcome-focused reporting that is responsive to the perspectives of clients. Eco-systematic approaches to service delivery and assessment consider the client as part of an interconnected web of stakeholders who all have responsibility for and contribute to their development and progress. These imperatives provide challenges for modalities for which there are not well-established assessment approaches. Dance movement therapists face particular difficulties in this respect, as they have few assessment tools that are practical for regular use. Existing dance movement therapy (DMT) assessment approaches largely do not yet prioritize input from clients. This article addresses these challenges in reporting a trial of iPad app MARA (Movement Assessment and Reporting App) developed for assessment in DMT. MARA is applied in a program for adults with intellectual disability (ID) over 16 weeks. Assessment data is gathered utilizing the app's features: two researcher-therapists undertake quantitative scoring that MARA aggregates into graphs, substantiated by qualitative note-taking, photos, and videos; and clients provide feedback about their progress stimulated by viewing photos and videos. A sample graph generated by MARA and supporting notes and a report drawn from data are provided. Responses to reports from program stakeholders (12 participants, 12 families, 11 center staff) gathered through interviews and focus groups are discussed, and researcher–therapists' reflections are detailed. The benefits of using MARA reported by researcher–therapists include strengthened capacity to focus on participant outcomes, assess efficiently, plan and make decisions for the program, and communicate participants' progress to stakeholders. Family members perceive reports drawn from data gathered in MARA to be useful in enabling better understanding of the DMT program and participant outcomes and potentially to support NDIS service planning. Managers perceive the potential value of data in these reports for quality control and resource decisions, while other staff confirm the therapists' perspective that reports offer the possibility of improved communication and collaboration between center staff.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcome-Focused Dance Movement Therapy Assessment Enhanced by iPad App MARA

Dunphy

Hens²

2018

Front. Psychol.

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“…However, if DMT is to be included as a mainstream therapeutic treatment with older adults who have a psychiatric condition, it is important to think about different solutions to the challenges of initiating more research in the field. One possible solution might be that international teams of dance movement therapists and researchers of related fields work more closely together in order to develop a more robust evidence base (Meekums, 2010(Meekums, , 2014.…”

Section: Limitations and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research in DMT has increased considerably in the last decades as practitioners have come under increasing pressure to evidence their work and interventions (Meekums, 2014). Two meta-analyses (Koch, Kunz, Lykou, & Cruz, 2014;Ritter & Low, 1996) have been published on the effects of DMT on QOL, body image, depression, anxiety and interpersonal outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dance movement therapy with older people with a psychiatric condition: A systematic review

Jimenez¹,

Bräuninger

Meekums³

2019

The Arts in Psychotherapy

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“…Having not had my experience, or been present in the room, can you legitimately counterclaim against the interpretation I make of it? I propose you seek answers to your questions experientially, through your own “reflexive relationships” (Etherington, , p. 599) and practice‐based research as a DMP or other kind of therapist (Meekums, , , , ). Etherington (, p. 599) discusses the ethical issues and “vulnerabilities experienced by researchers when using reflexivity” and requests that we “come from behind the protective barriers of objectivity and invite others to join with us in our learning.” As well as discerning status and hierarchical relationships, we may “observe the behaviours involved in respecting the autonomy, dignity and privacy of participants (or not!…”

Section: A First‐person Accountmentioning

confidence: 99%

Touching the untouchables

Dymoke

2019

Psychother Politics Int

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This paper presents a model of dance movement psychotherapy/body psychotherapy that deploys touch and movement techniques from a somatic movement education and therapy approach called Body-Mind Centering ® (BMC ® ).The case study is situated in the context of the UK National Health Service, in adult learning disability services. Reference to a case study serves to illustrate the value of touch to the therapeutic process and demonstrates that touch is integral to communication and relationship, including issues of capacity and consent. The case study clarifies the role that a humanistic, person-centred dance movement psychotherapy approach has to offer to address the patient's clinical need, and the socio-political implications of the work in a predominantly non-touch care culture. The devaluing of touch and confusion around the use of touch is considered within the context of health and social care. Staff training provision involving touch methods is presented as a constructive solution to improving the quality of care provided to clients, to enhancing understanding and providing effective strategies to deal with these issues. A review of nontouch policies is recommended, with due consideration of factors such as touch deprivation and in recognition of the contribution that human contact-and so touch-can bring to bear on the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society. K E Y W O R D Scase study, embodiment, movement, touch

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Becoming visible as a profession in a climate of competitiveness: The role of research

Cited by 7 publications

References 28 publications

Outcome-Focused Dance Movement Therapy Assessment Enhanced by iPad App MARA

Outcome-Focused Dance Movement Therapy Assessment Enhanced by iPad App MARA

Dance movement therapy with older people with a psychiatric condition: A systematic review

Touching the untouchables

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