This study investigated the effect of incorporating
Dance/Movement Therapy techniques before and after
standard physical restraint procedures for violence
prevention in order to increase effectiveness of the
intervention. Effectiveness is defined as improved
therapeutic dynamics and empathy between the
participants. This study was conducted at the Terry
Children's Psychiatric Center in New Castle,
Delaware, USA. Participants included children and
staff. Children were asked about their experiences
in therapeutic holds in order to qualitatively
document their experience and inform the Workshop.
Adult participants attended a four-hour
Dance/Movement Therapy Training Workshop to learn to
integrate Dance/Movement Therapy techniques with
normal restraint procedures. Pre and Post
intervention information was gathered using a mixed
methodology approach, incorporating both
quantitative and qualitative methods. A model of
the Dance/Movement Therapy training course was
developed and executed as a project. It was found
that the D/MT training increased adult empathy,
awareness, and confidence in the procedure.