Colleen Donaldson ‘14 (New England, MA) was featured in Rob Wipond’s book, Your Consent is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships, published by BenBella Press.
The interview explores Donaldson’s use of dance/movement therapy (DMT) in inpatient hospitals to effectively address issues like paranoia and catatonia, emphasizing the need for psychosocial interventions as primary treatments rather than mere adjuncts. They also discussed how the current medical model often causes medication-induced movement disorders that significantly diminish the quality of life and expressive range but are rarely addressed adequately in hospital settings, leaving clients to suffer unnecessarily.
Donaldson runs a private practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, focusing on DMT and talk therapy for individuals experiencing altered states such as psychosis. In addition to clinical work, she has become an advocate for developing alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization, such as peer respite programs.
