Dance Movement Therapy and Psycho-Social Rehabilitation: The Sampoornata Model

This book looks at the psychotherapeutic effects of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) with a focus on the experiences of survivors of gender-based violence and their social development, psycho-social rehabilitation, and reintegration within society.

The author, a sociologist and dancer, uses a model she calls Sampoornata-- or Fulfilment, to merge sociology and dance in order to help survivors of sexual violence overcome their trauma. Sampoornata was developed to help survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, by focusing on their specific needs, and helping them to express themselves and overcome emotional and psychological pain. Through interviews with and detailed narratives of survivors, the book takes the readers through the development of the model, its implementation, practice, and impact on their lives. Situated within the social, cultural, as well as geographical context of India, the book is an important resource for rethinking the creative approaches, theories, and practice of DMT worldwide.

This book will be of interest to researchers and students of psychology, psychotherapy, dance and movement studies, and to those who work with dance and movement therapy. It will also be useful for professionals working in the areas of gender violence, trafficking, trauma, psycho-social rehabilitation, and well-being.

Sohini Chakraborty is an Ashoka fellow, sociologist, dance activist, dance movement therapist, and the founder-director of Kolkata Sanved. She introduced DMT as a tool for the psycho-social rehabilitation, empowerment, and reintegration of survivors by creating a pool of DMT practitioners at the grassroots. She launched the country’s first DMT academic programme with the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in 2012. She is one of 100 global women leaders recognised by Vital Voices, USA and her recent publications include, Dance/Movement Therapy: Renewing Purpose when Emerging from Sexual Abuse and International Human Sex Trafficking (2022), and Featured Countertrafficking Program: Kolkata Sanved’s Model Sampoornata (2019).