Drama therapy is a creative therapy based on the premise that drama can be used as a means for therapeutic change. It offers students an opportunity to expand their perceptions and understanding of the world in a way that is gentle, yet extremely effective.

Through the use of such media as stories, myths, ritual, role-play and image making, the pupils are encouraged to explore their personal experiences, ideas and feelings in a safe, supportive environment. The structures used provide a dramatic distance from the material being explored, and so enable the young people to work as safely as they need to with the material. This ensures that students can work at a level that is appropriate for each of them individually, whilst still maintaining the cohesiveness and dynamics of working within the group.

Research and evaluation has found that drama therapy can be beneficial in improving communication, emotional development, mental health, self-confidence, language and sociability, as well as improving behaviour and learning.

The Aims of Drama Therapy

• To foster development of communication, cooperative sharing and social skills

• To creatively explore ideas, social issues and relationships using drama and theatre techniques

• To enable the individual to feel heard and understood by others

• To increase emotional literacy through the exploration of feelings

• To develop concepts of responsibility of self and others in relationships in order to promote increased self-esteem, confidence and healthier ways of functioning

• To promote multi-sensory learning

• To aid learning and improve understanding within the curriculum