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 tell their stories, set goals, and solve problems, express feelings, or 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, and treatment 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. Many drama therapists may use of 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 or doctoral degree in Drama Therapy from a program accredited by the National Association for Drama Therapy, or hold a master's or doctoral degree in theatre or a mental health profession with additional in-depth training in drama therapy through NADT's alternative training program. Board-certified registered drama therapists (RDT-BCT) train and supervise students in this alternative track.

Where do Drama Therapists practice?

Participants benefiting from drama therapy span the life spectrum. Client populations 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 day care 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.