Moving Through Viewpoints in Neurorehabilitation: The Development of a Dance/Movement Therapy Clinical Method for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke

A dance/movement therapy (DMT) clinical method is proposed to address treatment goals and objectives of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). There is a need for more clearly outlined DMT interventions with the TBI population in the published literature. Viewpoints is an acting and choreography approach that could be a useful tool in DMT. It provides an organized structure for interventions that could address specific deficits of brain injury within the cognitive, physical, and psychosocial sequelae. Patients suffering from a TBI or stroke often lose cognitive awareness and sense-perception. These individuals must be reoriented to time and space in order for the brain to heal and allow for a successful recovery in the rehabilitation process. Viewpoints expands awareness and ways of moving and relating to the self, others, and the environment through the exploration of time and space elements. Clinical vignettes with TBI and stroke patients are included to illustrate technical choices of Viewpoints structure and process within the DMT session. Viewpoints in DMT attempts to enhance body and spatial awareness, and expand movement repertoire as well as creative decision-making and expression. Recommendations for future clinical practice, research and adaptations for other therapeutic contexts are considered.M.A., Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201