Dramatherapy

---

What is dramatherapy?

Dramatherapy (also called drama therapy) is a type of psychotherapy that allows you to explore emotional difficulties through the medium of drama. With the help of a dramatherapist, dramatherapy uses a variety of activities to work through a number of different mental health and well-being issues. These activities can include writing and learning scripts, improvisation exercises, or activities using puppets and masks. Dramatherapy can include a combination of drama, art, story making, music, or movement.

Dramatherapy is often used within a group environment, however, it can be used in one-to-one sessions too. A dramatherapist will use different techniques and may help you create a fictional story to portray. Usually, the fictitious story will be your own story re-told through different characters. 

Fictional elements can act like a filter. This way, feelings you may encounter shouldn’t take over those taking part. Instead, it can help you to acknowledge and deal with feelings that come up during the process. By creating a space between yourself and your emotional worries or concerns using dramatherapy, you can begin to gain clarity and a sense of relief or catharsis. 

What are the aims of dramatherapy?

The aims of dramatherapy can include:

• solving a problem
• achieving catharsis
• gaining a better understanding of yourself
• exploring and overcoming unhealthy behaviours
• improving social skills

Dramatherapist Christian Dixon, FRSA, PGDip, CThA, Clinical Supervisor, explains more about drama therapy and how it can help you. 

What happens in a dramatherapy session?

Dramatherapy sessions are each different, tailored to the needs of those taking part. Drama therapy can take place in a number of different settings. These can include schools, social care facilities, prisons, and private work places. Darmatherapists work with a wide range of different people, from different backgrounds, each with different needs. This means that you may be in a group where everyone has different reasons for trying dramatherapy, or one where you each have similar issues or worries. 

Your dramatherapist will first try and get to know you more and find out what you are hoping to get out of therapy. Once they have a better understanding of what you hope to achieve through therapy, as well as your expectations and needs, you can begin working together.

A group dramatherapy session may include:

1. Check in

Starting with a check in helps your dramatherapist understand how you are feeling. For younger children trying drama therapy, other methods may be used to help them express themselves, e.g. using emotion cards.

2. Warm-up

Warm-ups can help you to prepare for your session. Your dramatherapist may chose a warm-up activity that helps loosen your muscles and engage your imagination. For example, one common warm-up game includes getting everyone to introduce themselves by name and then to mime an action to represent how they feel. 

3. The main activity

Each session may use a different main activity. This is when your dramatherapist helps the group explore issues using different techniques, such as roleplay or story making. 

4. Closing 

As your session comes to a close, your dramatherapist may debrief the group. This is where they let you know as a group what you have achieved. They may also ask how you think the session went. 

---

What does a dramatherapist do?

Dramatherapists use many different activities and techniques as part of the main activity during dramatherapy sessions. These can include:

Role-play

Role-play is commonly used in dramatherapy. Role-play is when you act out the part of a certain character, in a specific situation. For example, you might be asked to act as a parent or child, exploring the emotions that this role brings out.

Improvisation

Improvising is when you make up dialogue and/or a scenario in the moment. This technique can help you to think on your feet, while requiring you to work with others. 

Mime

Miming is when you act, relying only on your body language and facial expressions, to convey emotion in a scenario. No speech is used. This can help you to think in different ways. You may find yourself tapping into feelings you haven’t experienced previously. 

Speech

Speech can be used in different ways in dramatherapy. You might be asked by your dramatherapist to speak in a way you wouldn’t normally (e.g. if you usually speak quietly and are shy, you might be asked to shout instead). Or you might be asked to describe the way a character feels.

Movement

Movement as part of dramatherapy gets you to express your emotions using your body. This can mean using actions, dancing, or motions to indicate your state of mind.

Acting out

Acting out is where your dramatherapist asks you to re-enact situations or behaviours that may have caused you problems previously. This can be difficult, as it can make you remember and re-experience difficult emotions. Acting out these difficult experiences and emotions can help you learn different ways you could handle them in the future, as well as to better understand why what happened affected you the way that it did. 

Use of props and masks

Dramatherapy sometimes uses props and masks. This can help you take on different roles, and can be particularly helpful with young children. Using props and masks can help some people more easily express their emotions or the character they are portraying. 

---

What can dramatherapy help with?

Dramatherapy can be an accessible form of therapy for a wide variety of people. It doesn’t require any acting experience or skill, and can be done at any age. Some of the issues it can help with can include:

Addiction

For those experiencing addiction, dramatherapy can provide a safe environment to express themselves. Dramatherapy can help people dealing with addiction to explore an addiction-free future, to practise new skills and experiences (e.g. saying no when offered drugs or alcohol). Dramatherapy can also help individuals to act out more negative behaviours, helping them to consider the impact and harm that they may have. 

Exploring issues through dramatherapy can help create a sense of distance, allowing exploration without feeling overwhelmed. 

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders can make day-to-day tasks more difficult. Dramatherapy can help you to explore these tasks in a safe, controlled environment. For example, if you have a fear of flying, you may roleplay being at an airport or getting on an aeroplane. This can give you the chance to analyse how you feel, learn new coping mechanisms, and reflect on the experience, without feeling in danger.

Part of dramatherapy can also include socialising with others. This can be a great way of building confidence and improving social skills. 

Depression

Dramatherapy is a particularly social form of therapy focusing on communication. Requiring you to talk and interact with others, many find this can help ease symptoms of depression. Acting out scenarios can also be helpful in developing new coping mechanisms that you can use in your daily life.

Some people experiencing depression may find it hard to feel their emotions, and may feel numb. Dramatherapy can help you to name your feelings and express them through drama in a safe place. 

Eating disorders

Eating disorders make the relationship between the person and their body a delicate one. Dramatherapy, focusing on body and movement, can help try and improve this relationship. Improving your awareness of your body can help you to see yourself in a more positive light.

Dramatherapy can help you to explore deeper issues that may be being dealt with using unhelpful or unhealthy coping mechanisms. A dramatherapist can help you to explore these in a safe way, in a setting that isn’t too overwhelming, helping you to find a new way of coping with negative feelings.  

Low self-confidence

Using pretend, dramatherapy can act as a way of practising things. Through creating a secure, safe environment, you can practise new ways of acting in a way you might like to – for example, being more confident. This can help you to learn and practise new skills before trying them out in real life.

Relationship difficulties

Dramatherapy can create a safe space where you can focus on teamwork and communication. Many people experiencing relationship difficulties may have problems with trust or communication. Group-based therapy can help you to develop and practice new communication skills and working with others. It can also provide the space to explore underlying issues safely, in a therapeutic setting. 

Schizophrenia

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends creative therapies such as art, music and dramatherapy as a form of treatment for schizophrenia. Art therapies can help individuals with schizophrenia to harness their more creative side, providing an outlet for self-expression and release.  

Self-harming

Dramatherapy can help people find new ways of dealing with distress and difficult emotions. Many people who self-harm use the physical act as a way to cope with tough or distressing emotions. A dramatherapist can help you to face the problems and emotions that are causing distress in a different way, finding healthier ways to work through these.

Traumatic experiences

Many different kinds of traumatic experiences can be explored through dramatherapy. These can include abuse and bullying. You may be asked by your dramatherapist to improvise scenarios similar to ones you have experienced before, to help you understand why and how trauma has affected you the way that it did. This can not only help you to build self-confidence, but can act as a cathartic experience.

---

What qualifications does a dramatherapist need?

The title dramatherapist is protected by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means that only people registered with the HCPC can call themselves a dramatherapist. To register with the HCPC, your therapist will have completed an approved dramatherapy programme. You can ask to see evidence of your therapist’s registration with the HCPC.

Dramatherapists often are both clinicians and artists. Many dramatherapists have a background in theatre, health or education. Their combined knowledge of theatre and therapy can be helpful in using a wide range of dramatic techniques to help you work through concerns and issues.