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Dr. Giselle Ruzany

Greetings! Dr. Giselle Ruzany, Ph.D., L.P.C., R-DMT, is a gestalt therapist, artist, researcher, contemporary choreographer, dance educator, and mindful movement practitioner. She is licensed to practice in Colorado, Florida, Virginia, and Washington, DC, where she currently operates in Woodley Park. In her trauma-informed psychotherapy sessions, she integrates mindful movement and embodied inquiry. Fluent in both Portuguese and English, Ruzany frequently travels between her two homes in Rio de Janeiro and Washington, DC. She is particularly interested in the intersection of dance and psychology, exploring how the somatic experience informs both fields to foster healing and connection. Ruzany has published chapters and articles, teaches at Antioch University, and has presented her work at various conferences, symposiums, theaters, and universities.

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Publications

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Embodied Inquiry

Ruzany, G. (2023). Chapter Embodied Inquiry for Choreography in Film Corpos que Dançam I

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Instagram link:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnE-lAJMsdN/

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Dancing an Ancestral Story

Ruzany, G. (2023) Chapter Dancing an Ancestral Story, Healing transgenerational trauma and finding resilience in Corpos the Dançam II

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Instagram link:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Crk3GLZs39C/

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Gestalt Projects

Ruzany, G. (2024). Chapter

Gestalt Projects. Dance as Embodied Movement Research within the polyvagal theory, art-based research, and Gestalt Therapy context in

Corpos the Dançam III

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Instagram link:

 https://www.instagram.com/p/DEkIOigNiMc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Ruzany, G. (2020) Chapter Signature Movement in Clemmens, M. (2020). Embodied Relational Gestalt: Theories and Applications. Taylor & Francis.

Link:

https://a.co/d/2o9cRit

Collective trauma

Ruzany, G. (2022). Engaging with Doctoral Work during the Pandemic.

Creative Arts in Education and Therapy (CAET), 2022 - caet.inspirees.com (p.113-125)

Link:

Volume 8 (2022) Issue 1 | Creative Arts in Education and Therapy (CAET)

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Dance as Healing

Ruzany, G. (2022) Chapter

Dance as Healing in

Milestones in Dance History edited by Dana Tai Soon Burgess Tai Soon Burgess, D. with Routledge

Link:

https://a.co/d/87asNUC

Art-based research​​

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Ruzany, G., (1999), M.A. Thesis “It takes two to tango,” a preventive 6 weeks couples´ therapy workshop incorporating dance therapy and tango into each therapy session.

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Ruzany, G. (2021). Embodied digital storytelling with ancestral legacy dissertation in proquest.com

 

Book Reviews

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Ruzany, G. (2023). Book Review: Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) for trauma Survivors: Theoretical, clinical and cultural perspectives in creative arts in education and therapy (CAET) pp. 102-105

Ruzany, G. (2023) Book review: A Journey Book: The Compassionate Activist. Transforming the world from within by Lucy Draper-Clarke, PhD in Creative arts in education and Therapy (CAET) pp. 226-230

Education

Dr. Giselle Ruzany's academic background is rich and varied, reflecting her passion for integrating psychology, movement, and expressive arts. She holds a Ph.D. in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University, EMDR Certification from the Rocky Mountain EMDR Training Institute, and Gestalt Therapy Certification from the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies. Her MA in Somatic Psychology with an emphasis in Dance/Movement Therapy is from Naropa University, and her BA in Psychology and Dance is from George Washington University.

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Workshops and Specializations:

 

  • In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ruzany facilitates workshops that blend movement, film, and storytelling in art-based research. Workshops include exploring embodied interactions through movement, delving into the intricacies of body awareness, and relationships through dance, film, editing, and storytelling.

  • Dr. Ruzany will be presenting and performing at the upcoming MAGMA Center in Glouster, MA on April 4-5, 2025. Register now before it sells out!

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