Why Drama Therapy?
Talking is often not enough to see and reflect on our own lives with the clarity and insight we need to effect change. The creative process allows us to move past our blocks and defenses to access a greater source of healing within us and work directly with our unconscious thoughts, patterns, and behavior. Drama Therapy is a form of creative arts therapy that utilizes dramatic tools to explore, process, and discover our own true selves and live more meaningful lives.
How does it work?
Drama Therapy provides us with distance between ourselves and our thoughts and emotions. This offers us the opportunity to see our real-life roles, patterns, and situations more clearly and with new perspectives and understandings. By externalizing our feelings, we may be able to work through and process our challenges and obstacles with greater understanding and awareness as we cultivate compassion and self-acceptance.
Drama Therapy offers a variety of creative mediums in addition to traditional talk therapy. These may include the use of projective techniques (art, images, objects), music, embodiment, movement, ritual, story, metaphor, role-playing, and improvisation. Clients will be engaging both their body and mind to explore and address difficult issues, and places they feel stuck and out of balance. Clients may be encouraged to draw upon their playfulness, creativity, and imagination to fully express themselves and reconnect with their authenticity and joy that otherwise may have been buried by life's experiences.
Drama Therapy offers a variety of creative mediums in addition to traditional talk therapy. These may include the use of projective techniques (art, images, objects), music, embodiment, movement, ritual, story, metaphor, role-playing, and improvisation. Clients will be engaging both their body and mind to explore and address difficult issues, and places they feel stuck and out of balance. Clients may be encouraged to draw upon their playfulness, creativity, and imagination to fully express themselves and reconnect with their authenticity and joy that otherwise may have been buried by life's experiences.
Who does it benefit?
Drama Therapy can benefit anyone of any age seeking support, healing, or guidance through life's challenges in a safe and contained environment. It is for anyone who feels they are not accessing their full potential in their body, mind, or spirit and may feel stuck, numb, or overwhelmed by emotions. It is particular useful for those who find accessing their emotions and sharing with a therapist challenging.
Below are some questions you may ask yourself regarding specific client groups.
Below are some questions you may ask yourself regarding specific client groups.
Why choose Drama Therapy for my child?
Drama therapy requires that the therapist enter into the world of the child and engage the child in the therapeutic process through play, imagination, storytelling, creativity, and metaphor. This approach is a more accessible way for children to process their painful feelings or experiences, build self-esteem, develop relationships, and work through emotional and behavioral difficulties.
How can Drama Therapy benefit someone with learning disabilities?
Drama Therapy does not rely on verbal communication alone, therefore making it a beneficial therapy for those who express themselves and communicate differently. The therapist will meet clients exactly where they are at, and the therapy may focus on gaining social skills, learning new tools for self-expression, how to process emotions, and build confidence depending on the client's need.
How can Drama Therapy help with a diagnosed mental illness?
Drama Therapy sees past the diagnosis, and allows for reintegration and acceptance of the self. Within the therapy space, the client will be invited to explore their negative emotions, patterns, and behaviors to learn new coping strategies, manage emotions, identify strengths, and live healthy and joyful lives.