What Flows Underneath the Disease

Article Information

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2023) 9(1):77–93 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2023/9/7

What Flows Underneath the Disease

Abstract

This article aims to explore the potential of dance/movement therapy (DMT) and creativity in supporting patients with chronic pelvic pain. It investigates the impact of a non-judgmental environment on the development of coping and self-compassion strategies; the potential of using DMT’s tools and art in general to explore, in a safe and creative container, one’s relationship with the disease and the meaning it has taken on in one’s personal history and the rediscovery of one’s psycho-bodily resources to listen to and actively dialogue with one’s pain. This article is based on a study conducted in two therapeutic groups of four women each. As the project was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings were conducted online and lasted approximately 2 years.

Keywords: chronic pain, vulvodynia, dance/movement therapy, self-compassion, dialogue with one’s pain

摘要

本文旨在探讨舞蹈运动疗法或 dance/movement therapy(DMT)和创造力在支持患有慢性盆腔疼痛的患者方面的潜力。它调查了非评判性环境对应对和自我同情策略发展的影响；使用DMT的工具和艺术探索个人与疾病的关系及其在个人历史中所代表的意义，在一个安全和有创造性的容器中；以及重新发现个人心理和身体资源，以便倾听并积极对话自己的疼痛。本文基于在两个治疗小组中进行的研究，每组有四名女性。由于该项目在COVID-19大流行期间诞生，因此会议是在线进行的，并持续了大约两年时间。

关键词： 慢性疼痛, vulvodynia (阴道痛), dance/movement therapy (舞蹈运动疗法), 自我同情, 与疼痛对话