“Drama Therapy is an active, experiential approach to facilitating change. Through storytelling, projective play, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, expand and find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world.” ~ North American Drama Therapy Association
What is Drama Therapy?
Drama therapy is an embodied practice that is active and experiential. This approach can provide the context for participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis. Through drama, the depth and breadth of inner experience can be actively explored and interpersonal relationship skills can be enhanced.
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For more information: www.nadta.org
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What Services Do Creative Arts Therapists Provide?
Creative arts therapists provide individual or group psychotherapy or counseling sessions in various settings including hospitals, nursing homes, human service agencies and in private practice. Creative arts therapists work in addictions treatment, in rehabilitation clinics, with individuals diagnosed with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, eating disorders, as part of interdisciplinary treatment teams in psychiatric hospitals and as child life specialists in children’s hospitals.
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What Do Creative Arts Therapists Practice?
Creative arts therapists are psychotherapists who use a creative arts modality to help clients make meaningful change in their lives, solve problems or become more playful in their relationships. There are master’s degree programs in drama therapy, art therapy, music, and dance/movement therapy. There are also programs where you learn a little about each modality and those programs are called the expressive arts therapies programs.
How Are Creative Arts Therapists Qualified?
There are master’s degree programs in drama therapy, art therapy, music, and dance/movement therapy. There are also programs where you learn a little about each modality and those programs are called the expressive arts therapies programs. Each modality has their own professional registry association to ensure professional competency and that all credentialed therapists are following all ethical guidelines.
For drama therapists there is a credential called the RDT (registered drama therapist) and the BCT (board certified trainer) for those who want to teach and supervise drama therapy students. In New York State there is licensure for creative arts therapists (LCAT) that requires a candidate to accrue supervised professional hours under a licensed creative arts therapist (LCAT), sit for two case study exams, and maintain continuing education credits after initial licensure.
When Should You See A Creative Arts Therapist?
Anyone looking to experience counseling in a more embodied way that works with story, metaphor, sound and movement, role-play, mask making, puppetry as well as traditional “talk therapy” is suitable to engage in the creative arts therapies. You do not need to have experience or proficiency in an art form in order to seek psychotherapy or counseling from a creative arts therapist. However, if you love to dance- seeing a dance/movement therapist might be a good fit or if you really enjoy singing, or are a singer/songwriter with performance anxiety issues, then seeing a music therapist might work really well.
