{"value"=>"<p> <span class=\"title\">Using Story Telling in Dance/Movement Therapy with Latency Age Children.</span></p> <p>The value of story telling was discovered while working with latency aged children on an acute psychiatric unit. This discovery occurred through the spontaneous initiation and creation of stories by the children during dance therapy sessions. The stories created by the children were used to accompany dance movement expression and became a frequent occurrence in sessions. The use of story seemed to aid verbal expression, help to resolve issues, and aided self-discovery. Eventually story telling was integrated into the dance therapy session with latency aged children on a regular basis. The purpose of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of how story telling helped the children to express inner conflicts and to resolve issues, particularly those inherent to the latency stage. Also the purpose of this thesis was to understand how story telling is of value to the dance therapy session, particularly with latency aged children.</p> <p>Through the review of literature concerning latency, play, dance therapy with children, and different techniques that used story telling in therapy with children, a better understanding was gained concerning the value and usefulness of story telling. It seemed that story telling tapped into the latency aged child's new ability to cooperate with others and to engage in play that produces a final project. Story telling engages a latency aged child in the new development of imagination and needs to engage in fantasy play. Also during latency, children begin to project inner conflicts into play activity so that they can resolve or “work through” these issues. Story telling provides a medium in which they can verbally talk through inner conflicts.</p> <p>During the dance therapy session, story telling provided the children with the opportunity to verbally express and communicate emotions that would emerge through the dance movement expression. The stories that were created provided structure for emotional material and provided an outlet to role-play. The use of story telling supported the creative process, spontaneity, and metaphor that is important during dance therapy sessions. Most importantly story telling would involve the children in the therapeutic process, build ego strength, and aid in self-discovery.</p> <p>In conclusion, story telling was of great value to the dance therapy session, particularly with latency aged children. These children were easily engaged in this creative modality and were able to utilize story telling to enhance the dance therapy session.</p>"}