Researcher ORCID Identifier
0009-0001-5742-829X
Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
Reader 1
Jennifer Ma
Reader 2
Theodore Bartholomew
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
Tierney E o'keefe
Abstract
The mammalian nervous system is primed to connect with loved ones, flee from danger, and shut down when overwhelmed. The nervous system frequently enters a state of chronic dysregulation after a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault. In order to properly heal from such trauma, treatment must address both the body and the mind. Internal family systems therapy and dance movement therapy provide two frameworks to address nervous system dysregulation and restore balance to the system as a whole. This study combines both therapies into a hybrid therapy treatment as an attempt to address the somatic nature of stored trauma while using the IFS paradigm as an underlying roadmap. Condition I participants will do 24 weeks of regular IFS therapy, while Condition II participants will start with IFS for 12 weeks and transition to a hybrid IFS and dance movement therapy modality for the remaining 12 weeks. It is anticipated that Condition II participants will show more improved therapy outcomes than Condition I participants. Researchers will measure therapy outcomes using the IFS Scale, which measures psychological flexibility and well-being as it pertains to the IFS model.
Recommended Citation
O'Keefe, Tierney, "Combining Internal Family Systems Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy to Treat Survivors of Sexual Assault" (2025). Scripps Senior Theses. 2546.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/2546
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Mental and Social Health Commons, Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons
