Acknowledging the past: trauma informed social justice & dance movement therapy

ABSTRACT

This theoretical paper examines historical traumas and the impact they have on the mental health fields when working within similarities and across difference. This paper also examines racist ideologies in North America and how they are woven into the institutions and interpersonal relationships one can encounter. Traumas that are examined for the purposes of this paper are collective traumas such as Drapetomania, Tuskegee experiment/study, police brutality and the lynch laws. The use of some props in the dance/movement therapy field is examined through the lens of trauma-informed social justice care to prevent harm. There will be a theoretical model for clinicians to use to track their bias, assumptions, power, privilege, and prejudice.

Please note that traumas will be discussed in this paper, take care of yourself, these topics can be difficult to read about and revisit.

KEYWORDS:

• Drapetomania
• trauma-informed social justice
• dance/movement therapy
• trauma
• oppression

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tosha Lanette Jorden

Tosha Lanette Jorden was born and raised in Denver Colorado. Tosha attended Naropa University for undergrad and graduate school. They received a BA in somatic counselling and a minor in performance; which focused on systemic oppression through dance and rap. Tosha received their MA in Clinical Counseling with a concentration in Dance Movement Therapy. Tosha currently is a Youth and Family counsellor for marginalised and privileged communities.