Open AccessRaising the Curtain on Drama Therapy: Healing Benefits for Youth and Older Adults
Author(s) -
Vanessa Boila,
Lanette Klettke,
Stephanie Quong,
Ciara Gerlitz
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
behavioural sciences undergraduate journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2562-4687
DOI - 10.29173/bsuj494
Subject(s) - drama , drama therapy , normative , storytelling , psychology , psychotherapist , intervention (counseling) , medicine , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , art , narrative , visual arts , literature , political science , law
The vast majority of people around the world have been exposed to dramatic arts in some way, shape, or form, but only recently has drama therapy been accepted as a therapeutic treatment for individuals across the lifespan. This paper provides a general introduction to drama therapy and some of the techniques (e.g., role playing and storytelling) employed in its delivery and hands-on practice. In addition, the paper explores how drama therapy has been used to treat young people (approximately 10-17 years old) who have autism and/or social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, and older adults (approximately 60-90 years old) who are experiencing normative or non-normative aging. The findings presented here suggest drama therapy may be an efficacious, healing treatment for a myriad of age groups. For instance, its positive effects on individuals with dementia have been observed, and an assortment of intra- and inter-personal improvements have been documented in youth. Considering drama therapy is still a growing field, less drama therapy research exists in comparison to its alternative treatments.