Musings of a Dance/Movement Therapist

Expressing Appreciation Build Higher-Performing & More Sustainable Team

Tony Schwartz has written an excellent article, "Why Appreciation Matters So Much", in the Harvard Business Review blog.

"Whatever else each of us derives from our work, there may be nothing more precious than the feeling that we truly matter — that we contribute unique value to the whole, and that we're recognized for it.

The single highest driver of engagement, according to a worldwide study conducted by Towers Watson, is whether or not workers feel their managers are genuinely interested in their wellbeing. Less than 40 percent of workers felt so engaged.

Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up. At the most basic level, it makes us feel safe, which is what frees us to do our best work. It's also energizing. When our value feels at risk, as it so often does, that worry becomes preoccupying, which drains and diverts our energy from creating value."

Encouragement and words of praise are much better motivators than negative criticisms. That does not mean that everything we do is great, but that positivity to encourage people to address one's growing edge is more likely to drive results than negativity.

The same is true for people with dementia. Words of praise and recognition of value go a long way toward encouraging people with moderate to advanced dementia to continue to engage in life.

Dancer Frances Wessels ~ Another Octagenerian Role Model

This video speaks for itself.

 

It is women like this who have inspired me on my career as a dance movement therapist. Wessels:

"healthier mentally as well as physically and emotionally" because I think we need to express ourselves in some ways.. . . People who can't express themselves in any way are often stuffed up.... All life is an improvisation and to be able to express it through movement is the most natural, healthful and happiness-producing way to be."

Thanks to Jason Akira Somma for his documentary, Frances Wessels A Portrait of 89 Years. Frances Wessels danced with Hanya Holm and Martha Graham.

Musical therapy is making breakthroughs

This article, Musical therapy is making breakthroughs in this morning's LA Times is very inspiring. In addition to being inspiring in its own right, it gives me hope that some day the MIT Media Lab might look at the work that dance plays in healing.

One comment I'd like to make is about the statement, "Music is usually the last thing Alzheimer's sufferers recognize." I think he means that recognition of music is usually the last thing they lose. Most of the people with dementia with whom I work seem to enjoy music. But music alone does not provide healing. It is the relationship and the interaction which brings healing.

I ran a dance therapy group yesterday for elders with dementia about whom I've written in previous articles. It had been several months since I've seen these folks. Two or three of them recognized me upon seeing me. Another recognized me only after I approached her and warmly greeted her. It took her a few seconds, but I saw the recognition in her eyes. I had about 20 people seated in a circle, some with eyes closed, others watching. When I first put on the lively recorded music, a few tapped their toes. I put ribbon wands into their hands, and with a nurse assistant and activities person helping me, they began to move their arms. I mirrored each person, gazing into their eyes, either from across the circle or right up close and expanded their movement or contrasted, doing whatever it took to make their movement just the tiniest bit bigger. I was looking for a brighter affect, more engagement. 

I played music with slightly different moods, from different time periods and cultures, but music that most would recognize. I was trying to capture their interest through variety. I played with them, and their eyes brightened as they recognized that. One Polish woman who spoke no English, new to the group and who initially refused to shake my hand, communicating clearly her disdain of me, saw that even though we couldn't speak the same language, I could see her. She could participate on her higher level of cognition as we played with changing leadership of movement. 

Gradually, as I changed music, props, put a felt crown on my head, then put it on one of their heads, shook my booty and shimmied with some of the residents one by one got the residents to their feet who were able to dance with me or the other staff. I used the music to change and build the group energy even while using a balloon.

One woman and one man remained unresponsive to the music. They did not appear to even hear the music. However, they responded to me, and to my facial facial communications. And the man responded to the balloon.

It was a beautiful site to see. Communicating nonverbally with each of them, yes using music, but more than that, using dance and movement to engage them. Letting them know that I valued each of them - it was that which engaged them. And the depth of engagement that we had with each other drew the other staff in, from administrators to nurses, cleaning people - everyone who walked by either danced by or danced into the circle.

I love my peeps and am so grateful to have the opportunity to dance with them. If only we could find the funding to do the research that would show the efficacy of what we dance movement therapists do, perhaps every dementia facility would employ DMTs. 

Quality of Staff Communication with People with Dementia Has a Major Impact on Their Quality of Life

Improving Communication Skills in Care of People with Dementia, an article in the Nursing Times.Net,reported the results of a study in the UK. (CSCI, 2008). While this report is about the quality of life for people in long term care in the UK, suffice it to say that in the UK these studies are being done. I have not yet seen similar research undertaken in the U.S. Following are excerpts from the article.

"This study, based on findings from 100 inspections of care homes, used the new Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) to examine the experiences of 424 people with moderate to advanced stages of dementia."

"Communication issues

While the report recognises that offering the appropriate level of support to people with dementia can be a difficult balancing act, it found 22% of people spent time in a withdrawn mood state at a time of day when people were generally engaged in activities. Those least engaged were those with the most severe communication problems and disabilities.

The investigation did find excellent examples of care, offered with warmth, understanding and tolerance. The data in the investigation report shows a ‘significant relationship’ between people being in a happy and relaxed state and being engaged in the world around them.

Issues surrounding maintaining privacy and dignity were highlighted in 18 out of 100 care homes. The report argues that impersonal assistance and a task-oriented approach undermine people’s sense of dignity and can lead to them being passive and silent. It adds that the quality of communication – both verbal and non-verbal – has a great bearing on how people with dementia feel."

"The CSCI emphasises that it is not just negative forms of communication that leave people feeling distressed; ‘neutral’ styles of communication can also have this effect. A neutral style of communication is defined as staff focusing on a task that needs to be completed, and lacking empathy and warmth.

The report also highlights the importance of promoting communication between people with dementia and family carers, the wider community and other residents."

"The report states that the quality of staff communication with people with dementia has a major impact on their quality of life. It concludes that a significant finding is the negative effect of neutral communication on the feelings of people with dementia, and stresses the importance of well trained and supported staff."

Dr. Meg Chang and I recently completed Nonverbal Communication Training for Caregivers of People with Dementia: An Embodied Approach, the training manual to accompany our trainings. Why an embodied approach. This approach is comprehensive, providing caregivers with the tools to be aware of their own communication style as well as what the person with dementia may be communicating. This is a how-to training program that empowers the caregiver/ staff / trainee to continually evaluate their communication, rather than 10 Easy Steps. After just completing the most recent 120 hour course in Laban Movement Analysis, I can assure you, there are NO easy steps. Every one of us is unique, which means that our communication styles are unique as well.

Contact me for information about our training programs.

Dance Therapists Talk about, Think about, Dance about ....

These are some of the topics folks have been sharing about recently on the American Dance Therapy Association LinkedIn group:

 

And 2 wonderful articles by Kimerer LaMothe, To Dance Is a Radical Act and To Dance Is (More than Just) a Radical Act in Psychology Today online.

No time to write right now. Am working on a dance assignment for Module III of the Laban Certification Training program. Talk about learning through movement. I was just talking with another student about how appreciative I am of all that I am learning through play at this stage in my life.

What Children Need

Brigitta White of Whole Me Programs just sent her thoughts after reading an article to empower parents to support their child's social and emotional development. Here's a link to the full article and below are her thoughts.

Children actually love to share. When they're babies, they like to give us things, and have us give those things back. When they're a bit older, they like to take a plate of cookies and offer one to each person in the room. When older still, they love the games that include everyone in the family. And when they are relaxed and feeling secure, children even love to see someone else enjoy their favorite things.

To be able to share, a child needs to feel a strong sense of connection, he needs to feel loved and warmly accepted. When he feels close to others and emotionally safe, he's not so desperate for the blue shovel or the green balloon. He can wait for a turn. He has what he really needs; a sense of connection buoys him through little disappointments.

But in order to relax and thrive, children need a few more vital things. Blue shovels and green balloons aren't on this list. My list of what a child needs to thrive goes something like this:

The daily opportunity to connect and be relaxed with someone who cares
Emotional warmth and welcome
Respect for his intelligence
Time for play
Lots of affection
Frequent opportunities to laugh together with others
Frequent opportunity to cry, in the shelter of someone's arms, when hurt feelings arise
Information about what is happening and why
Limits—enforced without violence—that promote safety and respect

Brigitta White is a dance movement therapist who teaches childrens yoga, dance and expressive movement in Virginia.

Dance Therapy with People with Parkinson's & MS

Dr. Miriam Berger, Director of the Dance Therapy Program at the Harkness Dance Center of the 92nd Street Y, says

"I love the Octaband... use both the large and small size for my Movement Disorders class (Parkinsons, MS, etc). One activity they love... we put a small bean bag ball in the center and bounce (to music) and count how many times we can do it... have gotten up to 400!"

That's the highest number I've heard about. Anyone else gotten higher?

The Octaband engenders curiosity, focus and a desire to connect with others. If you work with people who need motivation to help them achieve their goals, this is the time to get an Octaband. Waiting longer will only delay their achievements.