Overall, the results of using the model suggested that adult patients diagnosed with depression are slightly, although not significantly, influenced by a DMT group intervention. Somewhat surprisingly, the vitality affects observed in (i.e., disembodiment, directionality, tempo, space, tension flow, global vitality) appeared slightly more explicit in the treatment group than the control group. Indeed, the treatment group showed “global vitality.” Global vitality (GV) considers how interactive bodily actions are performed, thus calling attention to the “shading” of behavior or “color,” which is similar to Stern’s (1985) notion of “vitality affects.” From pre- to post-intervention, the change in SD was 1.17 compared to 0.89 in the control group (Cohen’s d 0.50 compared to Cohen’s d 0.00). The results demonstrated the model’s potential value of increasing vitality affects as a form of an agent of change for treating depressed adult patients. This same model was then implemented with a hospital during COVID-19.
COVID-19 – Preparation and Challenges – A case study
The increase in numbers of people diagnosed positive with Covid-19 was called: GAL. In Hebrew GAL means wave, a vibration of energy that transfers in the water. While swimming in the ocean, we can jump over a wave, decide to go under, or at times, we are left without a choice as the waves decide for us. There is neither familiar rhythm, speed, or direction. The idea of being in control vanishes. Much like in a whirlpool, you can’t fight it but rather let it take you and lead you to a new place in space.
The whirlpool of COVID-19 has led us to a new space in a new reality. Meeting and engaging patients in the therapeutic process, minimizing a sense of loneliness, supporting one another, and decreasing anxiety related to the looming potential for hospitalization (Yalom, 1995) may now seem like an unrealistic therapeutic plan. Offering patients diagnosed with depression the use of movement as a constructive tool or path to ease their fear and embarrassment and to allow for interpersonal relationships to be manifested in common movement, shared laughter, play, and creative expressions of the body (Sandel, Chaiklin, & Lohn. 2005) has become forbidden due to new COVID-19 restrictions and rules. Hospitals were forced to adjust, adopt and adapt to the Ministry of Health’s ever-changing regulations in the COVID-19 wave. All outpatient groups have been stopped, and patients have received one-on-one interventions only. At the same time, inpatient group are minimized to small, four-person groups that must maintain two meters of space from each other.
