Looking back to look forward: Modifying women's self-image through reconnecting to the girl within

This thesis researches the effects and changes of self-image when women are invited to reconnect to their girl within. The experiential component of this research was facilitated through a weekend drama therapy workshop focused on remembering, reexamining and reuniting with the girl they once were. The intent of this workshop was to provide an opportunity for adult women to begin to reintegrate positive aspects of themselves they may have abandoned and question the validity of decisions they made about themselves in their girlhood. A literature review, focusing on the theories of Alice Miller, Jean Baker Miller and Carole Gilligan, explores the development of women's self-image and supports the approach of reconnecting with the girl within as a method for modifying women's self-image.