1. THE APPLICABILITY OF CREATIVE MOVEMENT THERAPIES IN THE HEALING PROCESS OF TORTURE VICTIMS IN A CONFLICT SCENARIO IN MANIPUR, INDIA
Centre for Organisation Research & Education
Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Torture and Trauma
Creative Movement Therapy Association of India
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016

2. From Marian Chace to “Human to Humane”: Interactive workshop on creative movement therapy in rehabilitating female torture survivors in a conflict setting, Manipur, India
“The body does not lie”
Martha Graham
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016

3. “Displaced populations”
Images are transient today
Many populations have experienced displacement historically, and more than once
Indigenous and tribal populations are vulnerable
We forget the past so easily
The body remembers too
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016

4. In a living context of… Violent armed conflicts
Frequent involuntary displacements in history
Affecting many ethnicities and cultures, many minds
The body is a real vehicle to healing as individuals and together
For the body does not lie!
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016

5. Manipur on the Indo-Myanmar border area
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6. Report of DMT
Two groups, one of children and one of adult women survivors of torture, were conducted from 2010 – 2013
7 children (Range = 5-15 years, Mean = years)
23 women (Range = years, Mean = years)
All clients experienced trauma 4 weeks before the programme. Torture definition used as in Tokyo Declaration (1975), World Medical Association.
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7. Torture is defined as the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the orders of any authority, to force another person to yield information, to make a confession, or for any other reason.
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016

8. The treatment programmes identical in content and duration
Appropriate written prior consent
A consultant clinical psychologist supervised.
Two dance movement therapists, two junior clinical psychologists, one psychological counselor, one traditional healer and one medical doctor conducted
Among both the groups, only one was male and excluded from the results
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9. HTQ (Cambodian original version) was used to evaluate traumatic experience
Self-reporting Trauma Screening Questionnaire (DSM-IV) assessed PTSD for adults
Scheeringa et al (1995) recommend altered criteria for PTSD used for children.
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10. Post-therapy assessment
Two follow-up clinics were conducted after six months and one year to assess results of the treatment
Additional assessment psychometric tools for anxiety and depression were used to evaluate clients who had no PTSD
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11. results
Prevalence of PTSD among the children (N = 16, one male excluded) was 47%
Among the adult women, prevalence was much lower (N = 23) at 13%
Among girl children, 60% showed normal to moderate anxiety and 33% had mild to moderate depression
Anxiety and depression levels were much lower among the adults (less than 10%)
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12. results
Qualitative evaluation of clients in the follow up clinics revealed marked improvement of symptoms
Subjective feeling of being refreshed, relieved, ability to share feelings and emotions with others including family members, reduction in feelings of anger, able to cry, relaxed and having pain “washed away”
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13. lessons
Non-verbal communication using creative media accelerated coping of traumatic memories
Providing a sense of security in in-situ treatment environment
Outdoor activities found useful
Creative and movement therapy as cross – cultural media is suitable for multicultural context
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14. Thank you!
CORE - H2H Manipur INDIA 2016