- The Creative Quotient for Your Troubled Emotions..
Starting in the 18th century, drama therapy has evolved over time to address a multitude of mental health issues.
Mental health and creative therapies have a long-standing relationship helping millions fight recurring issues at hand. From adopting techniques like roleplaying, puppetry, enactments, and storytelling, drama therapy presents a unique proposition to express oneself and gain confidence. In this post, you will find out more about drama therapy and what it can do to boost your mental health.
How Drama Therapy Works
As the name suggests, drama therapy combines traditional forms of drama alongside psychotherapy to actively explore ways to deal with a range of emotional and behavioural issues. The best part is, one does not need any prior experience in acting or drama to embrace this creative therapy.
Usually, it is a registered drama therapist who guides you through the entire process and depending on one’s therapeutic goals, it can include a myriad range of techniques, namely:
Conventional drama exercises
Situational enactments
Roleplaying
Improvisations
Puppetry
Storytelling
Theater games
For instance, if you are battling a significant conflict, like a hateful relationship with your wife, the instructor might draw upon a sequence where you need to be in the shoes of your better half and say things from her perspective.
Typically, drama therapy for mental health works in groups, where each member is assigned a particular role. And, it doesn't matter whether you are keen to lead or tend to be the scapegoat–everyone has their own bit to contribute.
How You Are Benefited
Speaking from the broader corners, drama therapy, like every other creative approach, has widely benefited a significant number of people.
As one rehearses ways to express themselves, either by letting out their emotions through effective storytelling or using tools to depict things, they gradually pick up the art of ignorance to avoid mental chaos. In other words, they learn to look at their problems using a new pair of eyes.
In essence, drama therapy has made it possible to usher a handful of positive outcomes. People have not only been able to cope up with recurring mental health conditions like dilemmas, trauma, anxiety, insomnia, loneliness and depression but also gain a positive perspective of life like never before.
And we have a long line of beneficiaries to start with–troubled youth, homeless individuals, prison inmates, behavioral health issues, AIDS patients, dysfunctional ones, and even those who are overcoming their addiction. Individuals who have embraced drama therapy as a way to battle mental health issues can now:
Set firm goals in life
Feel way less isolated
Self analyze
Relate and respond positively to relationships
Harness their creativity
Address root cause of their issues faster
Can distract themselves during stressful situations, and
Rediscover their self-esteem
Wrap Up
Similar to other creative prescriptions, like art therapy for instance, drama therapy too educates one to explore and express from within.
Reportedly, this unconventional form of psychotherapy seemed to have worked wonders for inmates participating in correctional programs, where more than 70 percent showed remarkable improvement in their attitude towards law enforcement officers.
Besides, mental hospitals and psychiatric institutes across the globe have also included drama therapy within their line of treatment. For anyone on the lookout for self-expression, while still battling mental issues, drama therapy can be your lucky shot!
To know more or book a session with our therapist please get in touch with us today or write to us on community@manoshala.com.
Ipsit Roy, Artist, Writer Manoshala
Read more on trauma, anxiety, insomnia, loneliness, depression , addiction and covid, tea and mindfulness, understanding mindfulness, overthinking, unlearning anger, wellbeing during pandemic and many more