Alternative Education and Therapeutic Provision in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire
Approved by Dorset Council and Somerset Council for Alternative Education Provision
Approved partner on Dorset Families Matter Directory
Registered with Adopt South West for Drama and Art Therapy
Dramatherapy
Dramatherapy is a form of psychotherapy that enables people to express emotions, thoughts, anxieties through creative activities, not just through words alone. The very act of being creative is healing. You do not have to be good at acting to benefit from dramatherapy. It is perhaps fair to say that all that is really needed is an openness to change and a desire to challenge yourself to move into the future you want to live. But even these are qualities which the very process of undergoing dramatherapy can foster.
The techniques and activities used in dramatherapy are manifold. It is a process that works through metaphor, using stories, myths, objects, paints, characters, masks, puppets or other creative media. It uses role-play and other projective devices to foster empathy, support the psychological states of clients and to explore the inter-relational dynamics of 'self' and 'other'.
On a therapeutic level, focus is placed on the physical body, the outside of the person (inter-personal) and its relationship with the internal world (intra-psychic) and what may be hidden away as a result of emotional pain, trauma and difficulty. Many children (and adults) who experience persistent difficulties with their behaviour have damaged and absent play experiences. Playing, using a variety of dramatic methods including ball games, role play and story-based exploration is an important part of this work.
Dramatherapy can be beneficial to a person of any age, but can be especially useful for young people who struggle with processing complex thoughts and feelings which can affect their life, including access to education, and their relationships. It is a powerful way to give the distance and objectivity needed for them to reflect on their past, understand their present and find their way forward. By helping people - young or old - to develop positive attitudes towards life’s most complex and challenging circumstances, dramatherapy allows them to explore and value themselves, reduce their anxiety and stress, and build their self-esteem and self-confidence and good relationships with those around them.
“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength” Sigmund Freud
