What is drama therapy?
Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and/or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. This creative approach to psychotherapy is appropriate for children, adults, individuals, families, and groups to treat the various concerns for which one would seek traditional therapy or counseling.
Drama therapy is active and experiential. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis. Through drama, the depth and breadth of inner experience can be actively explored and interpersonal relationship skills can be enhanced. Participants can expand their repertoire of dramatic roles to find that their own life roles have been strengthened.
Behavior change, skill-building, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth can be achieved through drama therapy in prevention, intervention, and treatment settings.
A drama therapist first assesses a client's needs and then considers approaches that might best meet those needs. Drama therapy can take many forms depending on individual and group needs, skill and ability levels, interests, and therapeutic goals.
Processes and techniques may include improvisation, theater games, storytelling, and enactment. The theoretical foundation of drama therapy lies in drama, theater, psychology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and interactive and creative processes.
Unlike talk therapy, drama therapy gets there really fast. Role-playing -acting out issues and problems - is more effective than talking.
- Robert Landy, PhD, RDT/BCT
Director Drama Therapy Program, New York University
Under the guise of play and pretend, we can - for once - act in new ways. The bit of distance from real life afforded by drama enables us to gain perspective on our real-life roles and patterns and actions, and to experiment actively with alternatives.
- Renee Emunah, PhD, RDT/BCT Director,
Drama Therapy Program California Institute of Integral Studies
For more information see:
http://www.nadt.org/faqs.htm