The Intersection of Drama and Therapy

Drama and therapy come from two different worlds but when integrated, an interesting therapeutic approach is formed. Drama therapy is a unique and creative approach that uses drama and theatre techniques to help process and express emotions, resolve conflicts, and facilitate personal growth like building confidence, problem-solving skills, as well as build coping skills.

Understanding Drama Therapy and How It Works

Drama therapy is a relatively new mode of the therapy known as an alternative therapy which involves a variety of techniques that are based on active and experiential participation of client and sometimes, the therapist.

Drama therapy is facilitated by a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) or Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) or Psychodrama Therapist. Drama therapy can be administered in a variety of ways or techniques such as:

• Drama or theatre exercises
• Role play
• Puppetry
• Enactment
• Improvisations
• Storytelling

Drama therapy is an enjoyable and active way of achieving positive mental health outcomes such as emotional regulation, development via exploration and processing, symptom relief, cognitive development, personal growth. This therapy provides a safe and non-invasive space for dealing with difficult emotions or traumatic incidents. Drama therapy is recommended for trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues or interpersonal conflict.

Often, drama therapy is provided in combination with other therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy approaches, other Expressive Arts Therapies such as Art Therapy or Music Therapy, Group Therapy, play therapy, Family and Marriage Therapy (FMT), and Trauma-Focused Therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Psychodrama Therapy

Psychodrama therapy is both a psychodynamic approach as well as a specific form of drama therapy that focuses on re-enacting real-life situations or performance-based storytelling to explore emotions, behaviours and relationships. For example, a veteran having PTSD enacting a challenging memory from their past in a safe environment will allow them to confront and reframe the experience. You can search for psychodrama therapy near me to find practitioners specializing in this therapeutic approach.

Drama therapy and psychodrama therapy is effectively used for all age groups in a variety of settings, and has been found to be particularly effective with abuse survivors, individuals recovering or struggling with addiction, juvenile and adult offenders, individuals with developmental disabilities, families with dysfunctional environment, individuals with mood disorders, adults with chronic mental health disorders.

Drama Therapy for Anxiety 

Drama therapy is found to be an effective approach for individuals with anxiety as it uses creative, engaging techniques to help individuals experience, confront difficult emotions and situations in a controlled and safe environment.

Children, adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety benefit from drama therapy in the following ways:

• Techniques such as role playing, improvisation give the client a safe space to act out scenarios that may trigger anxiety and develop coping skills.
• Clients are able to safely express their emotions without the pressure of direct verbal communication.
• Moreover, clients develop and enhance social skills that can build confidence.

Drama therapy has specifically been effective with individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), wherein it helps manage physiological responses associated with trauma while exploring related narratives safely.

A research study highlighted the effectiveness of dram therapy in reducing anxiety and improving emotional regulation by helping participants or clients break free from repetitive thought patterns and gain new perspectives. 

How to become a Drama Therapist?

If you are an aspiring drama therapist, you need to pursue education, training and on-ground experience in the field. Training programs such as drama therapy programs or psychodrama therapy certification courses would be required to become a practitioner.

Some of the best drama therapy programs in the US are offered by organizations like the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) which include accredited programs to become a professional in the field. Best drama therapy programs by universities in an in-person capacity include New York University (NYU), California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Lesley University and more. There are many universities offering online drama therapy programs if you are looking for a flexible schedule.

Most programs require a master’s degree in drama therapy or psychodrama or a related field so completing your education is the first step, followed by clinical experience through supervised internships and practicums. Lastly you would obtain certification offered by the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) or the American Dance Therapy Association to practice drama therapy or psychodrama as per their respective guidelines and requirements.

The demand for creative and alternative therapies are growing recently as the expressive art therapies, especially drama therapy is becoming more popular and the awareness regarding mental health and use of engaging therapies, their effectiveness is increasing. This is why more professionals in the field of psychology as well as fine arts are moving towards utilizing this powerful therapeutic modality and searching for best drama therapy programs or psychodrama therapy near me can lead students, professionals to these specialized programs.

To conclude, drama therapy and psychodrama therapy are creative, engaging, transformative tools for emotional healing, regulation, personal growth. It is extremely helpful and effective for individuals with anxiety, trauma, behavioral and mood disorders, developmental disabilities, at-risk youth and abuse survivors, and other mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling with similar concerns, they can reach out to NABHS and we will search for drama therapist near you, or psychodrama therapy near you and find resources and therapists to connect with and start your mental health journey.