What is Drama Therapy?
Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and or theater processes to achieve therapeutic goals.
Drama therapy is active and experiential. This approach can provide the context for participants to shape their stories, set goals, solve problems, express feelings, and achieve catharsis. Through drama, the depth and breadth of inner experience can be actively explored and interpersonal relationship skills can be enhanced. Participants can expand their repertoire of dramatic roles to find that their own life-roles have been strengthened.
Behavior change, skill building, emotional and physical integration, and personal growth can be achieved through drama therapy in prevention, intervention, treatment, and educational settings.
What do Drama Therapists Do?
A drama therapist first assesses a client’s needs and then considers approaches that might best meet those needs. Drama therapy can take many forms depending on individual and group needs, skill and ability levels, interests, and therapeutic goals.
Processes and techniques may include improvisation, theatre games, storytelling, and enactment. Drama therapists may use text, performance or ritual to enrich the therapeutic and creative process.
The theoretical foundation of drama therapy is in drama, theater, psychology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and interactive and creative processes.
What are Registered Drama Therapists?
Drama therapists hold a master’s degree and some have completed doctoral degrees. A master’s degree in theatre or psychology or a related approved area is acceptable. Universities that offer a master’s degree in drama therapy are accredited by the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA). Students who already hold or are already enrolled in a master’s program in theatre or psychology, can receive their in-depth drama therapy training through NADTA’s alternative training program. Board-certified trainers (BCT) who are already registered drama therapists (RDT) supervise students in the alternative training program. The Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles offers a complete program with ALL the required and elective classes both in drama therapy and psychology, as well as with many internship opportunities, to complete the RDT requirements. BCT trainers who are not affiliated with complete programs, usually offer limited classes in their specialty area.
Where do Drama Therapists practice?
Client populations span the life spectrum and may include persons recovering from addiction, dysfunctional families, developmentally disabled persons, abuse survivors, prison inmates, homeless persons, people with AIDS, older adults, behavioral health consumers, at-risk youth, and the general public.
Drama therapists practice at mental health facilities, schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, adult daycare centers, correctional facilities, community centers, after-school programs, shelters, adolescent group homes, nursing homes, private practice settings, corporations, theaters, housing projects, medical schools, and training organizations.