Drama therapy may be very useful in working through different situations. Among them we discover the event of social skills and expression.
Dramatherapy, also often known as “dramatherapy”, is a technique of psychological therapy that permits you to change your behavior and facets of personality to enhance people’s mental well-being. It will be used each individually and in groups.
In particular, it allows us to relate to numerous situations with various theatrical means, during which the body is the important technique of expression. It includes body movements, improvisation, role-playing and dancing, amongst others. In this fashion, it goals to strengthen self-knowledge, self-confidence and self-esteem.
How is it done? What other advantages does it provide? Because it is just not as well often known as other types of psychological therapy, there are some doubts about it. Below we I’ll tell intimately what it consists of and the way it might probably be implemented.
How does drama therapy work?
Drama Therapy, created by J. Levy Moreno in 1920, is a style of therapy that uses various means to get people to specific emotional discomfort, resolve conflicts, or engage in a means of change.
It uses different techniques, but almost every part happens around individuals who represent or act out a situation, through the guidance or directions of the therapist. While its use is more common in group therapy, it might probably even be practiced individually.
In the primary case, along with the director, it requires auxiliary self (supporting characters who collaborate with the scene), the stage (a secure place where you possibly can confidently express yourself), and the patient or lead actor.
It is frequently carried out in the next stages:
- Warm-up. At this stage, the therapist must create the suitable emotional climate for people to feel comfortable after which find a way to specific themselves.
- Dramatization. This stage could be the climax of the show, because here the person designated because the hero must represent the role assigned to him. He will do that by presenting the situation as he wishes, with gestures, verbal statements, etc. If it’s a bunch work, the remainder of the characters will work together to create the scene in order that it seems very much alive.
- Group echo or sharing. In this part, the important character talks about how he felt. The other participants must also express their feelings and present their vision of the hero’s performance.
Basic principles of drama therapy
As elementary principles of drama therapy will be cited spontaneity and philosophy of the moment or “here and now”.
- Moreno approaches spontaneity from a creative perspective, from solutions that may come from having the ability to express feelings as an alternative of leaving them trapped.
- As for the philosophy of the moment, it refers to working here and now; although elements from the past or future are present, we’re working at a particular moment and time.
Now, while drama therapy uses acting as its important resource, it is vital to emphasise that it isn’t the identical thing and that prior experience is just not required. It stands out for its therapeutic goals since it does greater than just staging.
There are those that use dramatherapy and psychodrama as synonyms because they’ve some facets in common. However, they differ of their approach. While the previous deals with an issue or situation not directly fairly than in a possible way, psychodrama relies on concrete, real situations and refers back to the protagonist of the scene.
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Benefits of drama therapy
In addition to facilitating the expression of emotions and spontaneity – apart from the undeniable fact that there’s a planned situation – drama therapy has other benefits. In the next, we are going to take care of them one after the other.
1. The patient becomes an lively hero
Like many other therapies, drama therapy considers the proactive role of the person involved within the change. In fact, on this case, it becomes more pronounced, because no matter how the patient chooses to do it, he’s freely giving his discomfort or concern.
2. Facilitates catharsis
Many people have difficulty expressing their emotions and feelings once they are “themselves”. However, once they feel that they’re gaining distance from the issue and may play a distinct role, it is less complicated for them to accomplish that.
3. Get a recent perspective on facts and recent skills
When this happens in a bunch and others express their view of the facts, it is feasible to approach the situation from a distinct perspective. This allows us to broaden our view, consider creative solutions and keep in mind details we have now missed.
In the identical way, we can even do away with the crystallized “old roles” that hinder adaptation and more functional and fewer rigid responses.
What will be done in drama therapy?
Quite a lot of techniques will be utilized in drama therapy to foster free expression of those involved. The most typical are listed below.
1. Mime
As the name suggests, pantomime uses mimicry, i.e. representation through gestures or movements. Non-verbal language or body language becomes necessary and it’s a really useful technique for individuals who find it difficult to specific themselves in words.
2. Role play
Also often known as “role playing”. Here the thought is that every person who participates embodies a particular role.
3. Copying
Another member of the group represents the hero and acts as if he’s the hero. This is how he expresses what he thinks and feels. This mirror technique is used to see yourself. It teaches us about our own behavior and the way we’re perceived outside.
4. Role reversal
This technique goals to know the opposite person and put yourself of their shoes. In other words, it’s A the query of “putting yourself of their place”. An indication to develop the scene is to present the opposite person, their thoughts, what they might feel, etc.
5. Monologue
In this case, the hero shares with the viewers every part that happens to him, his thoughts and emotions. He can do that by talking to the director (therapist) as if he were talking to himself or to an imaginary person.
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6. Masks
Many times persons are liberated once they will be what they should not. In this case, sometimes it is sufficient to introduce a variant, akin to masks, in order that they will represent the situation.
Any of the above techniques will be used from childhood. It is feasible to incorporate elements akin to dolls and costumes, amongst others.
There is a form of therapy for everybody
Drama therapy is compatible with other theories; input from systemic, cognitive, Gestalt, etc. psychotherapy will be used. The key to increasing its use is for the therapist to plan activities in keeping with the patient’s needs and, after all, teach him to master the techniques.
This type of therapy is usually a very useful alternative to working on a particular topicor expand some expressive and emotional, especially in very shy or introverted people.
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