| Abstract [eng] |
Lina Likienė. Reclaiming identity through dance: a journey of healing from the shadow of a father‘s alcohol addiction to becoming a dance movement therapist. Final Thesis of the Master’s Degree Programme in Arts Therapy / Vilnius University / Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Vilnius, 2026. 93 p. Background of the study. Codependency arising within the context of family alcohol addiction causes profound fragmentation of personal identity and the loss of fundamental boundaries. Traumatic experiences often remain somatized in the body as nervous system tension, while verbal support methods may be limited. The autoethnographic study highlights the significance of dance/movement therapy as a holistic process that enables the transformation of dysfunctional behavioural patterns into a healthy and authentic relationship with oneself through embodied experience. Aim of the Research. To reveal, through an autoethnographic narrative, the personal experience of codependency and the inner transformations of identity within a sociocultural context, reflecting on the healing process and the professional becoming of a dance movement therapist. Objectives of the Research. 1. To review scientific literature on the phenomenon of codependency, emphasizing its impact on identity stability and bodily awareness. 2. To present the theoretical principles and scientific grounding of Dance Movement Therapy in the process of identity restoration, highlighting the embodied integration of experiences. 3. To describe the method of autoethnography, substantiating the value of subjective embodied experience in exploring sensitive social and psychological phenomena. 4. To reconstruct a personal narrative of codependency as revealed through somatic experience and the relationship with self and environment, linking reflective insights with the sociocultural context. 5. To create an authentic, evocative narrative that allows the reader to sense the phenomenon of codependency through the researcher’s embodied story, fostering open dialogue about emotional recovery and serving as a resource for those seeking identity restoration through bodily experience. Research Methods. Autoethnography integrating personal embodied self-reflection, diary analysis, and a review of scientific literature. Research results and conclusions. The autoethnographic study revealed that dance/movement therapy enables the integration of experiences inaccessible at the cognitive level through movement, transforming bodily stagnation into an authentic relationship with oneself. It was observed that personal healing experience and embodied self-reflection organically complement professional identity, creating conditions for a deeper therapeutic presence. This master’s thesis substantiates the value of dance/movement therapy in restoring personal identity and offers methodological insights for specialists working with the phenomenon of codependency. Keywords: codependency, personal identity, dance/movement therapy, autoethnography, body awareness. |
