What is drama therapy?
What’s Drama therapy
Drama therapy is a form of creative arts psychological treatment that uses drama and theatre techniques to support individuals in their mental health and personal development. By engaging in dramatic activities like role-playing, dramatic games and creating scenes, participants explore their emotions, problem-solving and personal growth.
The roots of drama therapy stretch back to ancient times, where drama was recognized for its therapeutic benefits in ancient Greek and Rome. However, it wasn't until modern times that drama therapy formally became an independent practice method. Over the past few decades, drama therapy has continued to develop and evolve, incorporating knowledge and methods from modern psychology, psychotherapy theories, as well as various social sciences and neuroscience.
In practice, drama therapy requires clear therapeutic goals, a supportive environment, and well-trained therapists. Therapists use a variety of techniques, including role-playing, physical exercises, and metaphors, etc., to create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings.
In essence, drama therapy offers a holistic approach to mental health treatment, leveraging the power of drama and storytelling to help individuals overcome challenges, improve their well-being, and achieve personal growth.
Drama Therapy Goals
Common therapeutic goals may include:
Trauma and stress management
Emotional and behavioral issues
Interpersonal relationship problems
Self-esteem and self-identity
Social relationship development
Life transitions and adaptation
Psychological development and growth
Drama therapy Activities
And here’re some examples of drama therapy activities:
1. Role-Playing: Participants choose a role to play, which could be someone from their life or a completely fictional character. This allows them to explore the character's inner journey and its relation to their own, reflecting on themselves from different perspectives and emotions.
2. Mask Making and Use: Creating masks as an art form allows participants to project their thoughts and emotions onto the mask in an enjoyable space. When using the mask in performance, participants can express emotions or traits that are usually difficult to reveal, experiencing a process of becoming both "not me" and "me" through the body movement and mask.
3. Improvisation: Through unscripted improvisation, participants are encouraged to express themselves freely and creatively, helping them deal with life's routines or uncertainties, thereby increasing resilience and coping skills.
4. Story Creation: Creating and performing a story allows participants to project their experiences or challenges, strengths, and weaknesses, helping them review and address communication, relationships, and understanding their needs.
5. Scene Re-enactment: Participants use language, body movement, and props to recreate past tangled experiences. Through observation with distance and rehearsal, they can understand the relationships, behaviors, consequences, and emotions , and explore new narratives and find more effective coping strategies to respond to past and future situations.
These activities can be adapted based on the needs and goals of the participants and should be conducted under the guidance of a registered drama therapist to ensure safety and adherence to professional standards.
References:
Hong Kong Association of Drama Therapists https://hkadt.org/?page_id=391
North American Drama Therapy Association https://www.nadta.org/what-is-dramatherapy
British Association of Dramatherapists https://www.badth.org.uk/dramatherapy/what-is-dramatherapy
