Dramatherapy is a psychological therapy that employs all creative aspects of Drama and uses them to promote well-being, personal growth and positive change. Don’t be put off by the ‘Drama’ in Dramatherapy, since no Drama experience or interest is required to be able to participate or benefit from this creative therapy. The focus is on the process and experience of the sessions as opposed to an end product or the standard of Dramatic Play. In Dramatherapy there are no right or wrong answers, only unique and imaginative interpretations.
Many aspects of Drama are used within the sessions such as;
- Role-Play
- Game-Playing
- Mime
- Puppetry
- Storytelling
- Movement
- Enactment
- Masks
- Improvisation
- Imaginative Play
- Voice
All of these aspects are used to build a strong therapeutic relationship between the child or young person and the Dramatherapist in order to allow expression, exploration and to develop understanding of difficult situations.
Dramatherapy can be used to;
- Build Self-esteem and confidence
- Improve social skills
- Provide a safe space for expressing difficult feelings
- Gain an understanding of emotions
- Develop playfulness and imaginative play
- Externalise internal worries and feelings
- Develop a trusting relationship
- Improve resilience to deal with life challenges
- Explore appropriate/alternative coping strategies
Read more about our Dramatherapist, Maddy Pike