Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Registration #: APCC 6432
Supervised by: Erin Harrell, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist - CA #PSY27303, LCPC in Illinois
Proudly joining Private Practice - Full Circle
Drama Therapy
*MA Counseling Psychology specializing in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, 2018*
*MFA Media and Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, 2004*
“The fact that drama therapy is likely to be more helpful in more vulnerable populations
runs counter to the erroneous stereotype that drama therapy is too risky or too
activating for these clients. The opposite conclusion is more likely.”
Trauma-Informed Drama Therapy by:
Nisha Sajnani, Ph.D. RDT-BCT
David Read Johnson, PhD., RDT-BCT
What I should know if my therapist recommends Drama Therapy:
Drama therapy is not designed specifically for actors or extroverts. In fact, drama therapy clients who are not interested in theatre or acting often find great benefits associated with drama therapy treatment. Drama therapy is not about performing or about being skilled as an artist. Drama therapy is designed to help clients who are working to create a mind-body connection in their healing process. Drama therapy can help clients create insight that may have
been unavailable during talk therapy. Drama therapy can enliven any number of traditional therapy interventions
and can be used seamlessly with both psychodynamic, solution-focused and behavioral approaches to therapy.
​
Some examples of how drama therapy might be used In individual sessions include: interventions like role playing, using props like colored scarves or every day objects to recognize and help externalize feelings, or creating body postures or "sculptures" to more accurately depict a mood or experience. Whether or not drama therapy is used in client sessions is always left to the client's preference.
​
​
Helpful Resources:
​
​
Power Drama Therapy
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-matters-menninger/202007/the-power-drama-therapy
What is Drama Therapy
https://www.katielear.com/child-therapy-blog/what-is-drama-therapy
​
The Therapeutic Process of Drama Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMLTJtMonVg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze2axfTHjz4
https://www.shakespearebehindbars.org/
https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2017/11/13/drama-therapy.cnn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOqF6w9zMk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSslnr2v75E
​
​