b'Dissertation Extract Jasmin WilsonHow can embodied creative interventions help survivors of sexual abuse regain a connection and ownership over their bodies? Dissertation ExtractJasmin WilsonEmbodied creative interventions such as dance therapyaway from that place which is the point of support when hold the capability to bring peace to survivors of sexualstanding on one foot (Laban, 1976: 10, as cited in Block, abuse (Perryman et al. 2019). Dance therapy is capable1998: 43). Resultantly, the body is known to occupy the of bridging the distance between mind and body,space regardless of whether it is in motion or at rest.created when the survivor disassociates from their body in a flight response, in an attempt to avoid the traumaticMoreover, understanding how the body moves in relat-event (Perryman et al. 2019). To elaborate, Chaiklin andion to personal kinespheres depends on the connection Wengrower (2009) state how the mind is indeed partbetween the mind and body. This is due to movement of the body and the body affects the mind. Potentialbeing influenced by emotions that exist throughout ones neglect of the body after trauma can result in theentire being (Pert, 1985, as cited in Ruff, 2019). Chaiklin suppression and ignorance of natural bodily sensat- and Wengrower (2009) also argue that movements change ions (Ho, 2015). Neglect of the bodys natural impulses,and adapt to ones psyche and emotions. This theory the natural instrument of expression, could lead toposes the idea that the mind is not only connected to the the suppression of emotion expressed through naturalbody, but also with the surrounding kinesthetic space. movement (Warren, 2008). This neglect poses a threat,To expand, Block (1998) describes general space: the space as argued by Chaiklin and Wengrower (2009), as it isoutside of the personal reach space of the body. The area the bodys natural impulse to move. Even before birth,within the personal reach space of the body is referred to human beings experience the urge to move, dependingas the kinesphere. Although each individuals kinesphere on movement to express emotions before learning anyremains existent around them at all times, a survivor of language. Therefore, in addition to trauma causing phys- sexual abuse who experiences disassociation with their ical blockages (generat-ing tension in muscles and joints),bodies may lack an understanding of their kinesphere, as it becomes clear that survivors might require an embodiedtheir movement becomes limited. Rebuilding a survivors therapeutic intervention to explore ways to reconnect theirkinesphere through movement exercises could lead to minds and bodies (Boston and Cook, 2009). a deeper connection with ones emotions and psyche, thereby cultivating a mind-body connection. In a dance/In an exploration of deeper mind to body connection,movement therapy course at the University of Hong Kong, survivors of sexual abuse at therapy sessions at thea session explored the participants kinespheres through University of Hong Kong were guided to examine thea bubble exercise. In this exercise, participants were concept of their kinespheres. Dance practitioner Rudolfasked to imagine being inside a transparent, impermeable Von Laban was distinguished for mapping the conceptionbubble, providing them with a feeling of safety. Then, the of the human kinesphere. The kinesphere is concernedparticipants were invited to move away, as far as possible, with body image as three-dimensional, formed fromwithout losing contact with their spot on the floor (Ho, the tactile, visual, and kinaesthetic receptors, resulting2015). This exercise investigated the directions their bodies from both internal and external stimuli (Chaiklin andcould explore within their personal kinesphere, disguised Wengrower, 2009: 80). Similarly, Laban mapped the ideaas a bubble.of a kinesphere in relation to the place and space of the individual (Block, 1998). Laban described the kinesphereSubsequently, participants were invited to allow fellow as the sphere around the body whose periphery canparticipant members to enter their bubbles. As paranoid be reached by easily extended limbs without steppingdelusions are related to the invasion of body boundaries 15'