The Effects of Drama Therapy
Posted by Improving Lives Counseling Services, Inc. | Therapy
Remember when your teacher forced you to role-play with the one kid you disliked most? Or when you were forced to be Juliet to a Romeo you wouldn’t kiss in a thousand years? As an adult, you might have been asked to role-play in a psychology class, a social science class, or during workplace diversity training. Used to encourage inclusion, build confidence, learn skills, and accelerate personal growth; role-playing, theatrical techniques, improvisations, and puppets are modes of creative arts therapy a licensed mental health provider may utilize when implementing drama based psychotherapy. The counselors, therapists, and clinicians of Improving Lives Counseling Services offer diverse types of psychotherapies including Creative Art and Drama Therapy.
WHAT IS DRAMA THERAPY?
Drama therapy can take many forms and approaches. Developed in England and the Netherlands, the three main schools of drama therapy include: The Creative Process Theory, the Analogue Process Model, and the Cognitive Behavioral Model. The intentional use of theater to achieve therapeutic goals lies in the theoretical foundation: theater, psychology, psychotherapy, anthropology, play, and interactive and creative processes. Drama therapy utilizes theatrical techniques and exercises to help clients explore feelings, emotions, urges, discords, memories, and experiences. Unlocking the unconscious mind through drama therapy facilitates self-expression, self-awareness, self-growth, and healing.
HOW DRAMA THERAPY WORKS
Trained therapists administer drama therapy to help people experiencing a range of psychological and emotional issues. In a safe, supportive environment, by using creative expression, clients gain insights and express feelings in an emotionally “unattached” way. By taking on the role of a character, they solve problems, improve communication skills, build confidence, achieve cleansing, repair relationships, and gain insight into internal thoughts, and behaviors. A client’s age, ethnicity, culture, lifestyle, environment, preferred surroundings, sexual orientation, skills, and goals are considered when assessing which symbols, projections, expressions, and theatrical techniques will best meet the client’s need.
WHO BENEFITS FROM DRAMA THERAPY?
Drama therapy can be added to anyone’s mental health treatment plan. It is especially effective for the abused, the disenfranchised, the traumatized, homebound, homeless, isolated, disabled, the dying – and proven successful in the mental health treatment of dialysis patients, chemotherapy patients, dementia patients, and the chronically ill. It has been found to be beneficial in treating personality disorders, emotional problems, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, addictions, and bullied and suicidal children. Clients diagnosed with depression, anxiety, alcoholism, promiscuity, personality disorders, and PTSD also benefit from Drama Therapy.
A non-conventional approach to traditional talk therapy, Drama Therapy has been used in mental health group settings delving into discrimination, racism, diversity, equality, and inclusion. Drama Therapy allows individuals to tap into their emotions, beliefs, and behaviors – practicing communication and coping skills, developing growth, and building emotional intelligence.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF DRAMA THERAPY
Drama therapy promotes mental health and overall well-being by addressing the interconnections of mind and body. Improving mental health through drama therapy can lower blood pressure, reduce pain and muscle tension, improve heart rate, improve posture, improve immune function, and promote relaxation. Because drama therapy exercises include physical movement, clients can improve balance, flexibility, motor skills, and coordination. Other benefits include improved breathing and respiratory function, better sleep, improved digestion, and physical self-awareness.
CALL IMPROVING LIVES COUNSELING TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS
Creative Art Therapy was discovered in 1930 by European artist Adrian Hill. Hill discovered the benefits of painting as a form of therapy: coining the term in 1942. The practice of Art Therapy spread to mental hospitals through the work of Edward Adamson who validated the connection between artistic expression and emotional release. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries the modalities have expanded. Today creative art therapies include music therapy, dance and movement therapy, expressive arts therapy, photography, sculpting, knitting, woodworking, creative writing, animal assisted therapy, and (therapeutic) adult coloring books.
The licensed, professional, highly trained counselors, therapists, and clinicians of Improving Lives Counseling Services offer individuals, couples, families, and groups specialized programs and creative art therapies in person and online. Contact us to learn more about the healing and growth benefits of drama therapy. Call 918-960-7852.
