Drama therapy
[1] Drama therapy is used in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, mental health centers, prisons, and businesses.
[4] At different times in history drama has been used for psychological, political and religious change, for example Aristotle’s idea to use tragedy for ‘catharsis’.
Several drama therapists have analyzed the historical roots of dramatherapy in the context of ancient traditions and rituals (Jones, 2007).
This school was initially set up to train care givers who had to work with children that were affected by the Second World War (van der Linde, 2010).
[7] Students were trained in using play and creative activities as the main methodology, and gained knowledge in psychology, pedagogy and other courses related to human development.
In the 1960s the school started to offer different art therapy courses, based on the experience in teaching both creativity and human development.
[8] Meldrum placed the start of dramatherapy in the context of the 1960s, when the establishment, including psychiatry, was being questioned and an optimism about new ideas and approaches to learning and the arts was embraced.
[10] The important element is the ‘aesthetic illusion’ that creates a safe distance in exploring the suppressed needs, which makes it less threatening for the client (Smeijsters, 2006).
The work of Stanislavski provides ideas about character building, the use of unconscious material, the re-creation of feeling and improvisation (Meldrum, 1994).
The Sesame Institute for drama and movement therapy cannot be excluded when discussing important influences in the field of dramatherapy in England.
Today, drama therapy is practiced around the world and there are presently academic training programs in Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Croatia, Israel and the United States.
Persons who hold a master's degree in a related field can be registered as a Drama Therapist by pursuing what is known as Alternate Route Training, which consists of graduate coursework and internships performed under the supervision of a board-certified trainer.
[25] In the UK, the statutory regulator of drama therapists is the HCPC and the professional body is the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth).
Mr. Eddie Yu (President), Adeline Chan (Vice-president), Dorothy Wong and Kevin Ma are the founding members.
[29] Many of these universities suggest specific subjects to complete at degree level if you wish to pursue on to a masters programme in Drama Therapy.
Participants in drama therapy follow roles to tell a story or perform a part, thus embracing a new perspective of the character and themselves.
Drama therapy works to shed light on feelings and behaviors of a person and helps teach them ways to manage and overcome obstacles they struggle with.
