A New Drama Therapy Initiative For The Betterment Of Youth's Mental Health

Of the many news, and repackaging something old as a new, novel way of dealing with today's stressful lives, we are back onto exploring ways to combat mental stress. This time, we explore drama therapy. A theatre in Northamptonshire teamed up with KidsAid to launch a 12-week Dramatherapy program called M-Power.

The aim is to help kids aged between 12 to 16. It will be hosted at the Corby Cube, and is a free imitative designed to provide a familiar and safer space for young people to express and process their emotions through creative methods like storytelling, dance, drama, role-playing, and much more. The sessions will be conducted with trained clinicians who would be leading them. The program will also focus on equipping participants with tools that can help them navigate life's challenges.

What Exactly Is Drama Therapy?

It is a form of psychotherapy that blends creative techniques like art, music, storytelling, painting, drama, and more to support the emotional well-being of a person. These forms are used as a technique, a way to better express oneself, when words are not enough.

Tracing its history could take us back to 18th century Europe, as per the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. However, it was not until the 20th century, when it actually gained its recognition as a focused therapeutic method. It is built on the belief that everyone possesses an innate capacity for creative expression, which can help individuals explore hidden parts of themselves, process past experiences, and discover new solutions to challenges.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, drama therapy is active and experiential, making it especially effective for individuals who struggle with or feel unengaged in conventional therapy methods.

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How Does It Work?

Drama therapists are capable of tailoring their approach to meet each person's needs and goals. The techniques, as mentioned before, involves storytelling, role-playing, improvisation and creative writing. These methods allow the participants to express their emotionally safely without having to confront it directly.

Mediums or music, movements and more can be used to enhance the experience. The sessions then foster a reflective process where participants can examine their emotions and experiences, guided by the therapists to discover new perspectives and coping strategies.

The Impact

As per a 2021 study, it was noted that people who suffered from serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, or schizophenia, drama therapy or its various forms actually helped them and led to modest reductions in their psychiatric symptoms. It also helped them develop friendships and supportive relationships with other participants. Another study showed that drama therapy also helped with depressive symptoms. It showed that the quality of life of those dealing with dementia improved after attending an 8-week long program.

The positive impacts have been seen in variety of mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Substance abuse
• PTSD
• Depression
• Cognitive Disorders