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What is it?

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Giving young people the skills to enable them to develop coping and resilience techniques. This is done through a fun mix of role play and self-esteem building games that increase coping mechanisms to deal with the difficulties and dramas of every day life.

  • Increase self worth and self esteem

  • Reduce stress and anxieties

  • Develop team building strategies

  • Providing and outlet for expressing emotions

  • Make new friends and connections in a fun and non threatening environment.

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Watch the video to see an example of how it works very effectively - borrowed from Kristi Davis - University of Michigan Musical Theatre

Drama therapy for Children and Adolescents

The definition of Drama therapy

Drama therapy /Theraputic Acting is defined as 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.

 

“The specific application of theatre structures and drama process with the intention that is therapy, healing process as such”

 

Drama therapy is an active, experiential approach that facilitates the client's ability to:

  • tell his/her story,

  • solve problems,

  • set goals,

  • express feelings appropriately,

  • achieve catharsis,

  • extend the depth of inner experience,

  • improve interpersonal skills and relationships,

  • and strengthen the ability to perform personal life roles while increasing flexibility between roles.

 

Drama therapy is a creative arts therapy that provides an outlet that is otherwise unavailable when being oneself.

My approach to Theraputic Acting

 

As an acting tutor I am using therapeutic drama in every aspect of my class. I would like to underline the influence and importance of it for my practice.

Role playing is one of them, because as individuals we play a number of biological or social roles, and it doesn’t matter if a student plays it or not in real life. The scenarios, story telling, myths are created again in the safe environment, have worked through particular roles and situations in thought and action, enable students to become skilled performers in their every day live.

 

Though in Drama therapy “Play” is a basic element and while using their imagination through playing in real life the children as well as young adults, have an ability to transform. Method that integrates role play, stories, improvisation and other techniques taken from the theatre with the theories and methods of therapy.

 

The result is an active, experiential process that draws on the child’s capacity for play, utilising it as a central means of accessing and expressing feelings, gaining insight, practising successful approaches to difficult situations. Often children don’t communicate their feelings and thoughts through only words. Stories may be played using objects (such as puppets, dolls, or other toys) using one’s body, or using one’s voice.

Create a difference with Drama therapy

Specific benefits for children and adolescents

 

Specific benefits likely to be achieved in drama therapy

with children include:

  • reducing feelings of isolation,

  • new coping skills and patterns,

  • broadening the range of expression of feelings,

  • experiencing improved self-esteem and self-worth,

  • increasing sense of play and spontaneity,

  • and increased ease in developing relationships.

 

Locations for Acting / Drama Therapy

 

Theraputic Drama/Acting work can be done in educational or school/after school settings, early intervention programs, community centers, multicultural centers, private practice, rehabilitative facilities, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, shelters, group homes, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals and wellness centres.

 

The one on one session with the facilitator or maximum groups of 4 to focus on each student needs.

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For more Information on Drama therapy Contact Inga

 

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