Dance/Movement therapy for children and adolescents with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Dance/movement therapy is introduced as a holistic approach to children's health issues, incorporating an array of medical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues.


BACKGROUND
Dance/movement therapy, with its unique emphasis on nonverbal communication in assessment and treatment, is presented as an innovative therapeutic approach to address the comprehensive needs of children and adolescents with cancer. Dance/movement therapy assessment and intervention strategies are discussed in the context of cognitive, emotional, and social developmental processes, as well as models of stress and psychological adjustment in pediatric cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The inclusion of dance/movement therapy as part of the interdisciplinary team addressing the psychosocial needs of children and adolescents with cancer facilitates greater integration of factors related to coping. By its very nature, this modality offers constructs that promote holistic approaches to cancer care.
Cohen
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Supervisor, Creative Arts Therapy/Child Life Services, Tomorrows Children's Institute, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ, USA.
Walco
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003614:Dance Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child