Priscilla shares her story of how she began dancing at 3-years-old and why she quit at age 19. More importantly, she explains how incorporating her master's education in social work paired with the experience of returning to dance allowed her to heal from a 10-year-long eating disorder. She discusses how practicing the works of cognitive behavioral therapy in day-to-day life can help reshape automatic negative thoughts and behaviors. Priscilla encourages listeners to recognize their own control over their experiences and come in ready with their "armor" - prepared statements that can be utilized to counteract any negative thoughts, experiences, or conversations (whether in dance class or any other space). This episode concludes with key takeaways for dancers and parents of dancers, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with dance and reminding yourself why you make the decision to dance.

Reminder: Please proceed with care and caution. If you have been impacted by the topics we talk about in this episode, please know that this conversation may be difficult to listen to. Only choose to move forward if you are in a mental and emotional place where you can absorb insights and experiences related to these topics.

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Resources Discussed:

Article: "What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?" by American Psychological Association, 2017 [https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral]

Article: "How to Rewire Your Brain" by Grace Weintrob, Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at Colorado State University, 31 May 2022 [https://www.research.colostate.edu/healthyagingcenter/2022/05/31/how-to-rewire-your-brain/]

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Music By: Augusto Diniz