To introduce drama therapy techniques and approach. Traditional therapy has historically been problemfocused. Some drama therapists get a bit touchy about this as they like to see themselves as having grown up now. An introduction to dramatherapy is a concise introduction to the background, theory and practice of a method of therapy which uses the dramatic process to help people during times of stress, emotional upheaval, illness or disability. The earliest documentation of theatre as a therapeutic practice was in 1939 by peter slade who was giving a lecture to the british medical association. Routledge international handbook of dramatherapy is the first book of its kind to bring together leading professionals and academics from around the world to discuss their practice from a truly international perspective. The activities can be used in drama lessons and workshops or during rehearsal and devising periods. To this day, the female shamans of korea, the taoist priests of china, the. Drama therapy applies techniques from theatre to the process of psychotherapeutic healing. Psychodrama, an experiential form of therapy, allows those in treatment to explore issues through action methods dramatic actions. Drama therapy is the use of theatre techniques to facilitate personal growth and promote mental health. Drama therapy can be seen as a set of constructed and controlled experiments to provide a new way of life with imagination, intellect and spirit. Drama therapy is an embodied practice that is active and experiential. The general aim of a drama therapy session is to search ideas, and other problems using dramabased activities.
Very ancient history of dt evidence in archeological records suggests that early humans began to make art paintings, sculpture, music, dance, and drama during the upper paleolithic period. Assessment in drama therapy by johnson, david read ebook. Dramatherapy is an integrative therapy, a fusion of the two fields. This paper explores the concept of dramatic reality in drama therapy from a. In turn, participants describe their house to each other. For more information on drama therapy, visit the website of the north american drama therapy association nadta, a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to uphold high professional standards and ethics among drama therapists and to promote the profession of drama therapy through information and advocacy.
Dramatherapists are both artists and clinicians and draw on their trainings in theatre drama and therapy to create methods to engage clients in effecting psychological, emotional and social changes. The word drama comes from ancient greek and means quite literally things done harrison, 19. Jun 08, 2009 a drama therapy report from the freedom theatre. Dramatherapy has developed as a profession during the latter half of the twenti. The use of drama and puppetry in occupational therapy during. Drama therapy can be conducted within the group setting by a trained, professional therapist. Healing collective trauma using sociodrama and drama therapy. Dramatherapy uses drama as its main mode of communication to create distance from possible issues the individual may have difficulty addressing badth, 2018. Drama therapy is though more than a collection of techniques, although one could say that a strand in its development was the use of drama and theatre techniques in talking therapy approaches. Drama therapy is an active, experiential approach to facilitating change.
History of western drama western drama originates in classical greece. Drama therapy is a creative arts therapy method that integrates role play, stories, improvisation, and other techniques taken from the theater with the theories and methods of therapy. Dramatherapy is a form of psychological therapy in which all of the performance arts are utilised within the therapeutic relationship. Drama and movement therapy, ma study at the royal central school of speech and drama, london duration. The history of drama therapy by alison hudson drama therapy drama therapy in the united states a taste of drama therapy psychodrama defined as a form of action psychotherapy where individuals play roles for therapeutic purposes differences between drama therapy and psychodrama. Poetry therapy seminar the use of poetry in groups is extensive.
It appears that the emergence of the little theater movement in the early 1900s, which enabled amateurs to perform publicly, provided the impetus for occupational therapists to use drama as purposeful activity. To develop listening skills and collaborative work. Through storytelling, projective play, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, expand and find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world. Drama therapy sessions are at times divided between engaging in play and talking about thoughts or feelings related to real life.
Drama therapy as a counseling intervention for individuals. Drama therapy for individuals what is drama therapy. An introduction to dramatherapy sage publications ltd. Although both drama therapy and psychodrama can be considered to be drama acted out by a group, there is a difference of therapeutic. Drama therapy is the systematic and intentional use of drama theatre processes and products to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth. Drama therapy is used in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, mental health centers, prisons, and businesses. This book is a comprehensive survey of the current state of assessment in the field of drama therapy. Second edition by ann cattanach, the self in performance. The roots of drama therapy go back as far as the ancient greeks where theatre was a part of life, a festival for the gods and an opportunity to express social impacts of life and change. Dramatherapists are both artists and clinicians and draw on their trainings in theatredrama and therapy to create methods to engage clients in. Oct 08, 2015 in his novel drama as therapy theatre as living, phil jones gives a very brief, yet intriguing, history of drama therapy. Drama therapy is psychotherapy through the medium of drama.
The development of using drama as therapy can be dated back to the 18 th century around europe. The general aim of a drama therapy session is to search ideas, and other problems using drama based activities. Drama therapy is the intentional and systematic use of drama and theater processes to achieve healthy psychological growth and change. The practical exercises and techniques emanate from the world of drama and theatre which are underpinned by psychological theory. Drama therapy is, in simplest terms, the use of action techniques, particularly role play, drama games, improvisation, puppetry, masks. The drama therapy program at ciis is one of the only masterslevel programs accredited in the field nationwide. For more information on drama therapy, visit the website of the north american drama therapy association nadta, a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to uphold high professional standards and ethics among drama therapists and to promote the.
Drama therapy in hospitals the society is grateful to the national endowment of the arts for its support of this webinar series, which strives to provide affordable resources to individuals and organizations wishing to establish or advance arts and health programming. The use of drama and puppetry in occupational therapy. Platonic forms are often the brunt of cultural critiques. This chronology is an attempt to trace the interweaving influences which have gone tomakemodern dramatherapy. In his story, michael identified the following roles. Very ancient history of dt evidence in archeological records suggests that early humans began to make art paintings, sculpture, music, dance, and drama during the upper paleolithic period about 45,00035,000 years ago. Drama therapyaimtechniquesbenefitsdrama therapists role. In his novel drama as therapy theatre as living, phil jones gives a very brief, yet intriguing, history of drama therapy. The recurring strands of theatre, psychology, drama and therapy, continue to develop a courtship dance until the marriage occurs midcentury simultaneously in. Drama therapy combines tools from the art of theatre, like story and role, with tools from psychotherapy to target. The history of drama therapy by alison hudson drama therapy drama therapy in the united states a taste of drama therapy psychodrama defined as a form of action.
Drama therapy resources specifically geared towards children with special needs is an even smaller list, with focuses in autism a part of this division. It has analyzed a persons problems from where they started and how those problems have an effect on that persons life. I have identified two features which i believe to be central to our understanding of applied theatre. Closing activityconclusion one key principle of drama therapy is the focus on group readiness or the comfort level in the group.
Research shows that poetry therapy, through the use of preexisting works and creative writing, helps group members develop sensitivity to group function and serves as a catalyst for advancing group process. It gives clients a way to express their feelings, interact with others, and rehearse healthy behaviors. Because drama uses metaphor to express emotion, it was. Drama therapy and the therapeutic benefits of theater hss. The next major style of psychotherapy was developed not as the result of new ideas, but due to economic issues.
Drama therapy is defined as the use of creative arts in a therapeutic setting 1. The following is a basic structure of a poetry therapy seminar which uses a. Drama therapy, as a modality of the creative arts therapies, exists in many forms and can be applicable to. Drama therapy was born out of the realization that some life experiences and wounds are too painful to address through verbal dialogue alone. Jun, 2018 drama therapy is psychotherapy through the medium of drama. Drama therapy and the therapeutic benefits of theater. Although we are aware that dance, rhythm, storytelling, and rituals were used way before this. Drama therapy is a type of therapy that uses theatrical techniques and concepts to bring about meaningful change.
An introduction to dramatherapy creative therapies in. The enact drama therapy method in the schools diana feldman. Drama therapy and psychodrama share many techniques and theories, but have somewhat theoretical frameworks psychodrama tending to a more psychoanalytic emphasis and drama therapy coming from a more creative drama realm. Springer international handbook of research in arts education, vol 16.
The authors define and describe the basis of drama therapy with various populations in clear clinical. Illustrated throughout with vivid examples from dramatherapy sessions, an introduction to dramatherapy shows how drama can be used in an intentional and directional way to achieve constructive change with individuals or groups. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or. Miller, hubble, and duncans handbook of solutionfocused brief therapy is a resource for any practitioner needing a toolbox in the therapys approach it includes work from 28 of the lead practitioners in the field and how they have integrated the solutionfocused approach with the problemfocused approach. A history of drama as literature books tell you why, inc. The origins of drama go back to competitions held as part of festivities celebrating the god dionysus. One of way to help patients in expressing themselves can be through drama therapy. Where other therapies are often highly structured and goaloriented, psychoanalytic therapy allows the patient to explore freely. Here, we explore a brief history of drama as literature.
Feb 02, 2015 history of western drama western drama originates in classical greece. From freud to naumburg and kramer if one could name a grandfather of art therapy, then that name would be sigmund freud. Robert j landy and others published the drama therapy role. Often indepth discussion is not needed as the act of embodiment is therapeutic itself especially for younger children. Drama therapy basics creating a play in pairs goals. Drama therapyaimtechniquesbenefitsdrama therapists. Our aim is to take students on a challenging and compelling personal and intellectual journey toward deeper levels of understanding and developing competence in drama therapy. The origins of heal ing through the dramatic art form are very deeply set in history. Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama andor theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals. Drama therapy follows a typical framework for sessions. The ability to play is a natural part of childhood. America that provide drama therapy programs, two in the united states and one in canada north american drama therapy association, 20. Drama therapy is one of several expressive therapies used by clinicians and practitioners to help their clients achieve emotional and physical integration, personal growth and symptom relief. However, many are trained and work in both fields and there is a great deal of overlap in practices.
Enact history since 1987, enact has been recognized as a specialized new york city arts in education organization that excels in working with troubled youth. Drama therapy is an active, experiential approach that facilitates the clients ability to tell hisher story, solve problems, set goals, express feelings appropriately, achieve catharsis, extend the depth and breadth of inner experience, improve interpersonal skills and. Drama therapy programs drama therapy studies au seattle. Pdf on dramatic reality and its therapeutic function in drama. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis. It can be done in a group setting or individually, but is used most often in group settings. Reaching thousands of students each year, enact delivers customized workshops that employ theater and drama therapy techniques to teach vital social emotional skills to students. Drama therapy is the use of theatre techniques to facilitate personal growth and promote. Drama therapy and psychodrama share many of the same elements.
The research presented argues the effectiveness of drama therapy being. Drama therapy as a tool for promoting resiliency in at risk youth. Ncc, a nationally and internationally known author, is a unique contribution to the field of the creative arts therapies. Because psychoanalytic therapy is so personal, the relationship between the therapist and the patient is an important part of the treatment process. To understand how dramatherapy in the uk was born, we must. Like art therapy, it is the application of a creative modality to psychotherapy. Drama therapy is the systematic and intentional use of drama theatre processes, products, and associations to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical. Drama therapy is an active, experiential approach that facilitates the clients.
Healing collective trauma using sociodrama and drama. Traditionally, psychotherapy was a long progress, often involving years of treatment. This practice was used all the way in the times of ancient greece, even though it operated by a different name. First a long history of drama as a healing force with ancient roots in the healing rituals and. This approach incorporates role playing and group dynamics to. For people, who may have difficulty with selfreflection and making the connection of the enactment to their own lives, the experience in drama therapy enables them to interact and react in different. To understand how dramatherapy in the uk was born, we must go back to its roots. In particular, the book highlights the power of drama as a therapeutic medium because of its foundations in metaphor.
1482 1232 1134 1002 1004 1400 193 1455 689 733 395 736 289 694 1269 898 1311 1591 902 209 437 1284 1174 1280 775 557 376 989 849 271 706