Adapting to COVID-19: Tele-Dance Movement Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents with Autism

Abstract

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, one therapy that children and adolescents with autism may have missed is Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP). Previous studies have shown that DMP is helpful for children and adolescents with autism, particularly regarding their social and communicative development. However, due to social restrictions during this pandemic, it has been difficult to facilitate DMP. One solution that does not require physical interaction would be teletherapy. A systematic review examining a range of telehealth services and autism, including diagnostic assessments, early intervention, and language therapy, has suggested that children with autism, their families, and teachers may benefit from telehealth services. Nonetheless, there is no literature yet offering an overview of the use of tele-DMP for children and adolescents with autism. This study aims to investigate the use of tele-DMP for children and adolescents with autism during the 2019-2023 COVID-19 pandemic in several countries, including Hong Kong (HK), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, and New Zealand. Dance Movement Therapists from these areas were interviewed and their responses were qualitatively analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of therapeutic elements or methods, outcomes, and concerns and considerations in using tele-DMP. It is hoped that this can offer insights into the practice of tele-DMP across different cultures.