Creativity and dissociation. Dance/movement therapy interventions for the treatment of compartmentalized dissociation

• There seems to be a link between compartmentalized dissociation and creativity.
• Highly creative people resort to creative defenses that may become dysfunctional.
• Creativity can facilitate the healing process of compartmentalized dissociation.
• These interventions must prevent minimization and creation of false memories.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between creativity and compartmentalized dissociation (CD) and explore clinical implications for treatment. After examining the distinction between detachment and CD, the paper presents the main developmental pathways that lead to pathological presentations of CD, highlighting the role of creativity and fantasy proneness. The paper defines the potential benefits of using creative approaches specifically focusing on dance/movement therapy (DMT) in the treatment of CD. These dance/movement interventions address some of the therapeutic tasks required for people with CD, such as the identification and mapping of alters and the improvement of communication, collaboration and coordination among them. The paper finally applies choreographic and performance lenses to the integration and mastery of therapeutic transitions, specifically pertaining to the transformation and fusion of alters. In this process, the paper both examines the benefits of the use of body and movement and also stresses potential caveats in working with this population.