Dancing

PROBLEM: Therapeutic holding is a commonly used tool for the containment of aggressive behavior in children. Although often effective, the intervention has inherent physical and emotional safety risks. Can a body-based therapy be used to limit these risks?

METHODS: Research was conducted incorporating dance/movement therapy techniques (D/MT) before and after therapeutic holding to investigate this question. Volunteer residential treatment center staff participated in a 4-hour D/MT-based training workshop integrating the techniques with the intervention. Children participated via self-report.

FINDINGS: D/MT training increased adult awareness, sensitivity, perspective shifting ability, and confidence in the intervention while decreasing the necessity for physicality.

CONCLUSION: Integrating D/MT therapy training with therapeutic holding decreased the threat of trauma to adult participants. Further research into the integration of D/MT techniques with safe holding procedures may prove helpful in the challenge of making restraints safer for both children and adults.