“Dance is my whole personality trait”: Exploring dancer identity through an Existential and ACT-based approach

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Aggarwal, M, Swettenham, L orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-7010-6543 and Whitehead, A orcid iconORCID: 0000-0003-0611-364X (2026) “Dance is my whole personality trait”: Exploring dancer identity through an Existential and ACT-based approach. Case Studies in Sport and Performance Psychology, 10 (1). ISSN 3068-0530

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Abstract

This case study outlines the application of Existential psychology (Nesti, 2004) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes et al., 2012) with a 14-year-old female dancer. Following a group session that I delivered several months earlier, the client was seeking one-to-one support, to expand her identity as a dancer and explore perceptions around body image. A focus on her wellbeing was considered to understand her emotions, beliefs and values and how this aligned with her current life. Interventions derived from Existentialism and ACT was used such as value-driven behaviour and understanding the ‘Real Self’ vs ‘Revealed Self’. The impact of the intervention was evaluated using the client’s feedback and the practitioner’s reflections. This case study illustrates the application of existential and ACT interventions, alongside honest reflections including anxiety and self-doubt from the trainee practitioner.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV1580 Dancing
Divisions: Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Date of acceptance: 16 March 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access: 12 June 2026
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2026 10:01
Last Modified: 12 Jun 2026 00:50
DOI or ID number: 10.1123/csspp.2025-0044
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28254
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