Citation

Milliken R. J. Groups Addict. Recover. 2008; 3(1): 5-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15560350802157346

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A dance/movement therapy group in a jail addictions program offers a mind–body approach in dealing with issues and behaviors associated with addiction, including violence, trauma, and shame. This article includes specific examples of using dance/movement therapy to support recovery, with first-person narratives that detail therapeutic strategies. For inmates in a jail addictions program, this creative arts–therapy approach offers specific, anecdotal benefits that warrant further qualitative research—in particular, research on potential long-term impacts, such as reducing recidivism rates. Experiential and physical paradigms not only help participants integrate what is being learned but also help them practice alternative behaviors (safely) in response to intolerable feelings. Shame is at the center of any picture of addiction and thus is an important theme in this work.