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http://www.processwork.org/files/Finalprojects/Mindell_A_March_1986_cor.pdf
ABSTRACT
THE HIDDEN DANCE:
AN INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS-ORIENTED MOVEMENT WORK
Amy Sue Kaplan
This thesis provides a detailed description of process-oriented movement work developed by Arnold Mindell in airich, Switzerland. The process approach reveals how movement is one of a number of neutral channel through which unconscious information manifests. Therefore, movement is an important but not exclusive aspect of human processes. The therapist follows movement when it carries the strongest signal and is ready to leave movement as soon as processes manifest in the other sensory-oriented channels. The process approach is based on the final philosphy in which unconscious posturing and motions of the body are amplified in order to discover more about their meaning, thereby, following the unique nature of each client. This is in contrast to the predominantly causal-orientation to the body and movement which tends to try to get rid of or change body symptoms. The process worker follows the nature of the client rather than predetermimned theories and goals. This thesis shows one possible means for uniting current dance therapy modes, helping to join movement therapy with the mainstream of psychotherapy, and will help the verbally-oriented psychotherapist begin to see why it may be important to begin to work with movement and how he/she might go about incorporating movement work into his/her practice. An historical overview of movement in psychotherapy and early movement rituals is provided. Numerous case examples are presented which are taken from my own work with clients as well as examples from process oriented seminars. The last two chapters provide a detailed account of various methods for working with the movements which arise in the therapeutic setting.
ABSTRACT
THE HIDDEN DANCE:
AN INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS-ORIENTED MOVEMENT WORK
Amy Sue Kaplan
This thesis provides a detailed description of process-oriented movement work developed by Arnold Mindell in airich, Switzerland. The process approach reveals how movement is one of a number of neutral channel through which unconscious information manifests. Therefore, movement is an important but not exclusive aspect of human processes. The therapist follows movement when it carries the strongest signal and is ready to leave movement as soon as processes manifest in the other sensory-oriented channels. The process approach is based on the final philosphy in which unconscious posturing and motions of the body are amplified in order to discover more about their meaning, thereby, following the unique nature of each client. This is in contrast to the predominantly causal-orientation to the body and movement which tends to try to get rid of or change body symptoms. The process worker follows the nature of the client rather than predetermimned theories and goals. This thesis shows one possible means for uniting current dance therapy modes, helping to join movement therapy with the mainstream of psychotherapy, and will help the verbally-oriented psychotherapist begin to see why it may be important to begin to work with movement and how he/she might go about incorporating movement work into his/her practice. An historical overview of movement in psychotherapy and early movement rituals is provided. Numerous case examples are presented which are taken from my own work with clients as well as examples from process oriented seminars. The last two chapters provide a detailed account of various methods for working with the movements which arise in the therapeutic setting.