What is Dramatherapy?

Dramatherapy is a creative and expressive form of psychotherapy that makes an intentional use of aspects and processes of drama, play and theatre to work towards the restoration of psychological health and facilitate personal change, through the establishment of a safe and trustful relationship between the client and the therapist.

Dramatherapy sees the creative development of individuals through play and drama as key in their personal development and in their ability to work through emotional difficulties and personal problems.

Dramatherapy offers opportunities to safely explore within the containment of the art form of drama, issues, concerns and complaints faced by individuals and groups.

How does Dramatherapy work?

Dramatherapy is an active form of therapeutic intervention whose benefits derives from the engagement within the art form of drama. Dramatherapy encourages the use of theatrical metaphors to enable the exploration and understanding of difficult issues at a distance. The engagement in an ‘as if’ reality opens possibilities for safe and contained ways of understanding, approaching and re-considering past and present personal difficulties, thoughts and emotions.

As an expressive form of therapy, dramatherapy also mobilises the inner imaginative and creative resources of the individual, leading therefore to new skills, greater confidence, resilience and an ability to deal more effectively with situations arising in life. 

Dramatherapy makes use of a variety of techniques and methods to help to address and explore our deepest concerns. These may include the use of embodiment, projective play, dramatic play, masks, puppets, improvisation, storytelling, or storymaking. 

Who is Dramatherapy for?

Dramatherapy is now practiced worldwide. It is used with a large number of individuals and groups to address a wide range of issues. There are no limits as to who can benefit from dramatherapy. The benefits of engaging in dramatherapy are manifold. These include for instance the creative expression and exploration of feelings, emotions and thoughts; the ability to understand and become aware of past and present experiences; the examination of role patterns and the construction of new roles and identities; the stimulation of creativity and self-expression; the ability to examine and negotiate new relationships. 

Dramatherapists in the UK are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC).

For further details, see Individual Dramatherapy, Group Dramatherapy and Dramatherapy in Education.