Date
12-16-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Jerra Dooley
Keywords
dance movement, dance movement therapy, military veteran, mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, battle wound
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Forsmo, Amelia Ann, "Dance Movement for Wounded Warriors with Mental Health Diagnoses: A Phenomenology" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7877.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7877
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to understand how dance movement can improve the psychological health of military veterans who are experiencing a mental health disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder. The theories guiding this study are Carl Rogers’ humanistic perspective, Schlossberg’s transition theory, and the post-traumatic growth theory. A purposive sample of 12 to 15 veterans will be selected for participation in this study. Each veteran will have different military backgrounds, various battle wounds, and unique experiences with dance movement or dance movement therapy. For this reason, these perspectives allow each participant to be prioritized and heard. Data and categorical information will be collected through virtual interviews and surveys to allow maximum participation from military veterans worldwide. The intent is to enable military veterans to explain their experiences with dance movement in their own words.
