Workshops, Training, Speeches

Training and Presentations

  • Dr. Dunne is available for week-long (or longer) intensive training sessions in Drama Therapy and Narradrama as well as other workshop topics. She has directed the Drama Therapy Institute’s Study Abroad Program every summer since 2005.

Here are some specialties of other  faculty members who are available as well for training, workshops or speaking engagements:

  • Alexis Maron- Drama Therapy and Addiction, Identity for Women, Using Drama Therapy with Down Syndrome
  • Trisha Jauchler-Grief and Loss for Children, Adults and Seniors, Death and Dying for Children, Adults or Seniors
  • Kamran Afary- Narradrama, Intersectionality, Carceral Settings, ADHD, and Trauma & Resiliency

 Sample Workshops 

 Drama Therapy

Drama therapy workshops explore the therapeutic uses of drama in individual and group psychotherapy utilizing projective techniques of art, photography, objects, puppets, masks and psychodramatic techniques of the “empty chair,” “sculpture,” “interview,” and “mirrors.” Participants will try out a variety of techniques for applying drama therapy to various populations and treatment settings. Workshops can be designed for participants of all levels of experience.

 Intersectionality in the Therapeutic and Educational Encounter

How is our ethical practice in therapeutic, clinical, and educational settings informed by the way identities intersect and influence human experience? What is intersectionality as a theoretical paradigm and as a practice in drama therapy? How are gendered, racialized, neurodiverse, and queer bodies and perspectives quieted in our field? What can we do to help amplify — not quiet—intersectional identities?

 Narradrama Techniques: Integrating Narrative Therapy with Drama Therapy

Narradrama combines narrative therapy with drama therapy and other creative arts in expanding options for new possibilities and outcomes. Participants will be invited to discover therapeutic new techniques of using painting, masks, “living sculptures,” sandplay and photography as well as creating original rituals to signify important changes, decisions, transformations and life transitions. Opportunities will be given to explore action methods of externalizing, deconstructing and reconstructing, mapping/journeying, consulting the consultants, living environments and wonder space/reflecting team.

 Creative Arts Therapy

Creative arts therapy workshops illustrate the therapeutic application of utilizing the creative arts including movement, art, music, poetry and drama to supplement and enhance individual and group psychotherapy. Participants will experience effective techniques for using creative arts therapies with various populations and treatment settings. Workshops will be designed for participants of all levels of experience.

Narradrama as a Three Act Play

In a new restoried approach to playwriting and performance, participants as authors of their three act plays, restory parts of their history, imagine new possibilities, experience unexpected outcomes and gain insights about their strengths. Each aspect of the development of the play is explored from a Narradrama perspective, such as preferred roles, scenes, prologue, epilogue, play structure, stage design, staging, reflection and interpersonal connection to team members. Participants, through scaffolding techniques, reflect on previous work and integrate new parts that they prefer as well as witnessing and honoring others.  Reflective processes through the telling and retelling of stories as well as other forms of reflection are central to the participants.

 Drama Therapy with Children

This workshop focuses on methods of using drama therapy with children including working with puppets, dolls, sandplay, art, masks, and other techniques in therapeutic and educational settings.

 Drama Therapy with Teens

This workshop focuses on creative ways of utilizing poetry, music, video, photography and drama therapy and virtual media with adolescents in educational and mental health settings, plus special work with masks and rituals.

Drama Therapy and Addiction

This workshop focuses on providing a theoretical understanding of how drama therapy and other creative arts therapies can be integrated into addiction treatment.  Participants will explore ways that addicts can rebuild and reshape their identity from just “being an addict,” through techniques of character creation, role play, poetry and life mapping.  Cognitive restructuring, identifying triggering behaviors and  future life choices in comparison to current life choices will be explored.

Healing and Rebuilding

Using art, music, dialogue, reenactment, guided imagery, & other therapeutic techniques, this workshop offers remembering and healing rituals to help clients who are coping with loss and trying to move forward with life. Specific experiential exercises will augment traditional talk therapy and help the active development of knowledge and skills.

 

 

Testimonials  

“The Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles has been such a wondrous safe, personalized, freeing and flexible learning environment. All of the classes are designed to make the students self-sufficient with opportunities to work with such a wonderful and eclectic group of people with the kindest hearts and a wide range of backgrounds.”—Elizabeth Bauman, MA. Educational Theatre- New York University

 

“The Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles draws a wonderful mix of people involved in the arts and therapy and offers professional training in drama therapy in a small classroom setting that allows for plenty of individual attention. Dr. Dunne has a wonderful way of integrating didactic information with experiential learning. Dr. Dunne’s integrative style using drama therapy concepts and techniques is one of instruction; experience and reflection, which has helped me, solidify and deepen the tools of drama therapy. The classes have greatly enhanced my personal and professional growth.”—Pam Paulson, MA Counseling Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute

 

Contact Dr. Pam Dunne, Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles
3205 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 240
Santa Monica, CA 90045

Telephone: 310-226-2865
Web Address: dramatherapyinstiutela.com
E-Mail: pamela@dramatherapyinstitutela.com (preferred method of contact)

 

3205 Ocean Park Blvd Suite 240. Santa Monica, California 90405 Telephone: 310-226-2865 (prefer contact by email) Email: pamela@dramatherapyinstitutela.com or at: pdianedunne@hotmail.com