Waking up the bear: dance/movement therapy group model with depressed adult patients during Covid-19 2020

ABSTRACT

This article introduces a dance movement therapy group model used with adults diagnosed with depression and its adaptation to the conditions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic that helped preserve continuity of the therapeutic group and the therapeutic relationships. The model was initially researched as a pilot project and was offered as an option in the available treatment plan. The evaluation indicates that the DMT group model increased patients’ motivation to play, which then led to an increased experience of affective vitality and alleviated symptoms of depression. All participants in the groups were recruited from psychiatric units and an outpatient clinic. Because of the pandemic, the meeting spaces moved to virtual spaces allowed by mobile phone videos, online therapy and the outdoors. Work in the open air inspired new interventions that were welcomed by the groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Dance Movement Therapy
• play
• nature therapy
• depression
• covid 19
• vitality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sheerie Lotan Mesika

Sheerie Lotan Mesika, DTR MA Psy.D Dance Movement Therapist -Psychotherapist, Depression Clinic Shalvata Mental Health Care Centre, Hod Hasharon, Israel. Manager & Establisher, ‘Shiloovim’ Therapeutic Center.

Hilda Wengrower

Hilda Wengrower Ph.D. Dance Movement Therapist-Counselor, The School for Society and Arts-Ono, Head of the DMT section at the Israeli Assoc of Arts Therapies, Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy- Books Reviews Editor

Hagai Maoz

Hagai Maoz MD, MHA

Specialist in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. Lecturer, ‘Sackler’ School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Head of Acute ward, Shalvata Mental Health Care Centre, Hod Hasharon, Israel. Author and co-author of papers in psychiatry and social cognition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=maoz+h