Drama Therapy Workshops, Presentations, and Speeches

Pam Dunne

PhD, RDT/ BCT; Director, Drama Therapy Institute of Los Angeles

Pam Dunne is Professor of Theatre Arts and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles. In addition, she operates a private practice in Los Angeles, California and conducts training programs and workshops internationally.

Dr. Dunne is the author of eight books including: Double Stick Tape: Drama, Poetry and Narrative as Therapy for Adolescents, The Narrative Therapist and the Arts, and The Creative Therapeutic Thinker. She is past President of the US National Association for Drama Therapy and founding member of the Board of Examiners for the US National Association for Drama Therapy.

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.

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.

Drama Therapy with Children
For children, workshop demonstrations include working with puppets, dolls, sandplay, art, masks, and other techniques in therapeutic and educational settings.

Drama Therapy with Teens
Explore creative ways of utilizing poetry, music, video, photography and drama therapy with adolescents in educational and mental health settings, plus special work with masks and rituals.

Life Scripts
Experience personal growth and explore ways of using theater and drama forms, which culminate in a life script, drawing from experimental theater, creative drama, psychodrama, sociodrama and performance art.

"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