Susan L. Sandel

Countertransference stress in the treatment of schizophrenic patients

Four aspects of the dance therapist’s experience with schizophrenic patients are discussed: (1) the therapist’s tendency to develop omnipotent strivings; (2) the intensity of the therapist’s emotional involvement with patients; (3) the therapist’s struggle to exercise self-restraint when confronting patients’ inactivity; and (4) the effect on the therapist of the schizophrenics’ sensitivity to the therapist’s unconscious processes. The therapist’s omnipotent fantasies often serve as a defense against the hopelessness of the treatment situation. Another aspect of treating schizophrenics is the intense emotional involvement they demand of the therapist. The schizophrenics’ sensitivity to the therapist’s unconscious processes is a further source of difficulty in working with schizophrenic patients. The dance therapist’s personal investment in movement and possible conflicts about his or her role in the treatment setting provide the patient with ammunition for attacks on the dance therapist. Continued study of counter-transference issues which are both common to all therapies and unique to dance therapy will hopefully contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic process in various modalities.

Sexual issues in movement therapy with geriatric patients

Group movement therapy sessions, in which mutual touching, the expression of memories, and the sharing of feelings are encouraged, provide one place where nursing home residents may explore their sexuality. Sound and movement activities create an atmosphere of excitement which can have a revitalizing effect on older people. The therapist is often the first recipient of clients’ erotic fantasies and can use the individual transferences to facilitate the development of a group identity and peer interaction. Patients’ sexually provocative behavior, especially when directed at the therapist, should be regarded as potentially meaningful since it may mask feelings such as neediness or rage. Issues, including the longing for companionship, fear of physical deterioration, and sexual frustration, commonly emerge in movement therapy sessions. These issues are acknowledged and explored in the supportive environment of the group where a spirit of playfulness eases the discomfort of dealing with painful or embarrassing material.