Drama therapy is one of the unique, expressive, and creative forms of therapy as it helps in dealing with problems in different manners. Drama therapy is a form of expressive therapy wherein role-playing, learning different roles, and exercises help people understand and express their emotions. Drama therapy is a combination of psychotherapy and drama techniques that offers new ways to express feelings and thinking.
Techniques used in drama therapy revolve around improvisation, puppetry, role-playing, and acting out stories to help in active participation, self-confidence, and the build-up of new problem-solving skills. It can be more effective for solving emotional and behavioral problems.
Now that we have got a brief idea about drama therapy, let’s move on to the next section.
History of Drama Therapy
Drama therapy is not newly involved therapy but it was actually founded in the 18th century in Europe. The idea behind the development of drama therapy was to use the benefits of storytelling and dance movements. The form of recreation, movements, and expressions came into the eyes of mental health practitioners when the performers actually explored and presented their issues through expressive arts.
Drama therapy was later deeply researched and came into action in the 20th century. Drama therapy is known to be an experiential and active approach that can help people understand their issues such as relationship problems, goal-setting, mental illness, hidden traumas, and more.
Objectives of Drama Therapy
The major goal of drama therapy is to provide a secure and safe environment to the client wherein they can understand their needs, promote their own emotional voice, and engage in dramatic activities. Below listed are some of the goals of drama therapy:
Improve relationship and bonding skills
Increase self-awareness
Integrate overall wellbeing
Maintain quality of life
Promote personal growth and development
Promote positive behavior
Working in Drama Therapy
The best part about drama therapy is that you don’t need to go from arts or expressive studies to practice this therapy. Additionally, during the sessions, there’s only a registered drama therapist (RDT), so there’s no need for any further need of experience or dramatic training. Even in some sessions, clients don’t have to participate, instead, they are asked to observe and reflect. Drama therapist generally decides on the therapeutic goals and might take the use of different techniques during sessions, such as:
Drama exercises
Enactment
Theatre games
Storytelling
Improvisations
Puppetry
Roleplay
Generally, drama therapy sessions can be carried out in an individual and group setting. In the group setting, each client is asked to act out or role-play, so that they can develop an understanding of the issue and promote healing actively and creatively.
In individual settings, generally, the client is asked to role-play the scenes of opposite personalities so that they can understand the root cause of their issues, speak from other perspectives, develop empathy towards each other, and more.
Techniques Used in Drama Therapy
Drama therapy generally uses different activities and exercises involved in the theater to grow the inner expressions of clients. Below listed are the techniques that can be effectively used for accumulating drama therapy:
Dramatic projection: This techniques allows the client to understand their inner feelings and work on their issues.
Drama-therapeutic empathy and distancing: This technique helps in enhancing the abilities of clients so that they can mindfully engage in positive behaviors. Additionally, this also promotes inner conflict healing and personal problem-solving.
Impersonation and Personification: These two techniques help in expressing personal material with the help of role-playing.
Interactive audience and witnessing: This technique involves the client, group, or artists playing the role of witness or audience.
Life-drama connection: This process involves the focus on personal issues and problems with the help of dramatic projection.
Playing: Playing technique is usually practiced when the client needs to understand the process of problem-solving.
Transformation: This technique involves different aspects used in play or theater. This process is usually practiced through storytelling.
Therapeutic performance processes: This technique involves theatrical performances wherein the main work is performed on the personal issues of the client.
Benefits of Drama Therapy
Below listed are some of the common benefits of drama therapy:
Promotes healing in abuse survivors
Develops an understanding of at-risk youth
Develops empathy and patience in disabled group
Promotes healing and understanding in dysfunctional families
Provides nurture and care to homeless people
Promotes resilience and strength in older adults
Promotes healing and mental strength in people with AIDS
Develops emotional understanding and stability in people with behavioral health issues
Promotes healing and mental strength in people struggling with addiction
Promotes healing, nurture, empathy, and resilience in prison inmates
Below listed are some of the other benefits of drama therapy:
People struggling with mental health issues feel less isolated and empowered after sessions
People learn problem-solving skills effectively
People struggling with behavioral or expressive issues learn the art of expression
People learn to set therapeutic goals for themselves
People within a family setting learn to relate better with other family members
People understand their inner issues and self-judgment behavior more clearly
People gain a proper understanding of self-worth and self-esteem
People learn to develop better learning, coping, and healthy skills at work, home, or school
People develop an understanding of the art of expression and learn how to observe, react, and express appropriately
People start using the power of imagination, creativity, and mindfulness accurately
People learn how to address a problem effectively, quickly, and accurately
People get an escape from the pressure of life while attending the sessions
People learn to interact with others in a comfortable and safe environment
People learn to enjoy and savor each moment
Effectiveness of Drama Therapy
There’s limited research and studies based on the effectiveness of drama therapy. however, I could find a study published by Science Direct, “Dual Diagnosis Theater: A Pilot Drama Therapy Program For Individuals With Serious Mental Illness And Substance Use Disorder.”
The study followed a 9-week drama therapy program for people with serious mental health illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Schizophrenia. After the evaluation of the study, the researchers found a reduction in the symptoms. Additionally, the clients involved in this study enjoyed the sessions.
Why Should You Try Drama Therapy?
Drama therapy provides an escape from the real pressures of life. Every time you observe, reflect, and rehearse, you start changing your personality, you start adapting to better things, and most importantly you develop a new vision towards problems, emotions, difficulties, people, and toxicity in your life.
With the help of drama therapy, you learn to:
Express yourself
The story tells your side of emotions
Change the starting, ending, and details according to your preference
Look at problems from a different perspective
Drama therapy can be beneficial for family settings, groups, or individuals. Additionally, it can also be used in conjunction with psychodynamic therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Specifically, drama therapy can be really beneficial for those who find traditional therapy settings difficult.
Drama therapy can help in addressing various mental health conditions such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Substance use
Trauma
Where Can I Find Drama Therapists?
Registered drama therapists (RDTs) generally work in multiple community settings and mental health settings such as:
Community centers
Group homes
Early intervention programs
Hospitals
Hospices
Multicultural centers
Inpatient and outpatient mental health settings
Private practice
Wellness centers
Shelters
Schools and after-school programs
A Word from the Author
If you’re interested in receiving drama therapy, you can ask your mental health provider or doctor to find you an RDT in your local area or community. To get started with a drama therapist, here’s what you need to do:
Find a drama therapist: Start looking for an experienced and certified drama therapist according to your specific needs. You can also look for Drama Therapists from the therapist’s directory available on the internet.
Ask Questions: Before starting therapy, you can connect with your therapist and learn about their experiences, qualifications, and approach.
To find a Drama Therapist refer to
US Residents: North American Drama Therapy Association
US Residents: Mental Health Match
UK Residents: The British Association of Drama Therapists
India Residents: Therapize | Rakshita Goel
I hope this blog helps you understand drama therapy for mental health. Comment down and share your views on the same.
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The post Drama Therapy: What Is It, Techniques, Benefits, And More appeared first on Calm Sage – Your Guide to Mental and Emotional Well-being.
