Theatertherapie Literaturdatenbank

G. Garbujo, "The multidimensional grief of siblings: An exploration of story enactment in children’s hospices", Dramatherapy, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 91—102, 2024.

DOI: 10.1386/dj_00006_1

Datei : https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/dj_00006_1

Abstract:
In this article the author reflects on her experience of facilitating story enactment within an arts therapies group for bereaved siblings at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, in London. The author is originally trained in the Sesame Approach and has practised as a dramatherapist in the field of bereavement for over ten years. Through a phenomenological approach, the article examines how the enactment of symbolic images from fairy tales supports children processing their grief following the death of a sibling due to a life-limiting condition. The clinical vignette, presented as a constructed case study, provides an illustrative example of using the framework of the hero’s journey to delve into symbolic expression, intersubjectivity and embodiment. In analysing the clinical material, the author combines the Sesame Approach in dramatherapy with the novel Multidimensional Grief Theory, developed by psychologist Christopher Layne. This integration serves to illustrate the fundamental role of story enactment in group therapy for bereaved siblings in paediatric palliative care.

M. D. Reisman, "The Potential of Drama Therapy in Ukraine During Wartime", Art Research of Ukraine, no. 24, pp. 159—168, 2024.

DOI: 10.31500/2309-8155.24.2024.318914

Abstract:
This article explores the potential of drama therapy in Ukraine to address the country’s mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by ten years of war. It describes the goals of drama therapy, which include the expression and containment of emotion, the development of interpersonal skills, and empowerment. Strengths and limitations of the evidence base for drama therapy are discussed. Then the article presents key concepts of Developmental Transformations (DvT) drama therapy, which is used with a variety of populations around the world and in which the therapist interacts dramatically and improvisationally with one or more clients in a mutually created playspace. The article describes DvT drama therapy workshops that were held in Lviv, Irpin, and Kyiv in April 2024 with 200 Ukrainian psychologists, university students, and artists, and key images and themes that emerged. The article concludes that drama therapy can play a role in promoting mental health in Ukraine.

S. Klees, "Theatertherapie – Perspektivwechsel, Rollenerleben und Ressourcenaktivierung", PiD - Psychotherapie im Dialog, vol. 25, no. 01, pp. 76—79, 2024.

DOI: 10.1055/a-2088-5749

Abstract:
Theatertherapie eröffnet einen theatralen Möglichkeitsraum, in dem therapeutische Prozesse initiiert werden. Zur verbalen Ebene kommt ein körperlich-ästhetischer Spielraum hinzu, der uns Menschen vertraut ist, weil wir ihn im Laufe kindlicher Entwicklungsprozesse zum Lernen sozialer Rollen und zur Verarbeitung von Erlebtem nutzen. [1][2] Der brasilianische Theatermacher Augusto Boal beschreibt die besondere Qualität des Theaterspielens: „Theater ist die erste Erfindung des Menschen und zugleich die Erfindung, die den Weg zu allen weiteren menschlichen Entdeckungen geebnet hat.“

D. Harel, "Therapeutic Puppetry as a Drama-Therapy Intervention for People Living with Dementia", GeroPsych, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 37—48, 2024.

DOI: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000333

Abstract:
This case study examines a therapeutic puppetry project conducted by a drama therapist in a dementia unit at a daycare center in Israel. Three people with dementia and three drama-therapy students participated. The intervention included three genres of puppetry. A qualitative case study was conducted following the project. The students’ and the therapist’s records and the photos of the puppetry were analyzed according to the case study design. Four themes were generated: (1) Puppetry encourages the flow of creativity; (2) puppetry encourages self-expression and authenticity; (3) puppetry supports memory and the sequence of the therapeutic process; (4) puppetry leads to a transformation of the inner experience. The findings point to the contribution of the project for people with dementia.

E. Keiller, T. Hutchinson, D. Ougrin, C. E. Carr and J. Y. F. Lau, "Therapist perceived active ingredients of school-based dramatherapy for children and young people with emotional distress", The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 90, pp. 102190, 2024.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2024.102190

K. Long, "Transforming a body: Sculpting in therapy", Psychoanalysis, Self and Context, pp. 1—9, 2024.

DOI: 10.1080/24720038.2024.2318322

Abstract:
The writer shares the course of treatment with a gender nonbinary teenager and their parents that utilized techniques from drama therapy, relational self psychology, sculpting, and family therapy. Following the rupture and attempted repair with the patient’s parents, work with the patient and their family finally led to a joint decision to terminate treatment. This case study discusses the clinical challenges and implications of working within a family system in which parents’ values misalign with the psychotherapist’s treatment goals.

J. S. Frydman, R. Kaur, S. Caputo and S. Hyman, "Using Creative Arts Therapy to Promote Academic Success in the Postsecondary Setting: A Secondary Narrative Review of Preliminary Findings from 2009 to 2019", Journal of Experiential Education, 2024.

DOI: 10.1177/10538259241260638

Abstract:
Background: The application of creative arts therapies (CATs) in schools has become an area of interest among educational researchers. Much of the literature has concentrated on the K-12 setting, with a minor focus on how CATs have been utilized to achieve academic success. Inquiries examining how CATs in the postsecondary setting have targeted academic success have yet to be aggregated and reviewed for their specific contributions. Purpose: This secondary narrative review of CAT-based educational interventions analyzes preliminary literature gathered from a larger systematic review on the application of CATs in K-12 schools. In the present review, CATs are considered for their unique contributions to postsecondary academic success through experiential learning. Methodology: The identification procedure is situated in the context of the initial systematic review and outlined according to carryover elements useful for the present analysis. Findings/Conclusions: All CATs were represented, a majority featured undergraduates, qualitative data, and experiential interventions; all studies demonstrated academic utility via an empirical lens. Implications: Based on this initial analysis, CATs may be uniquely suited to promote academic success by developing affective awareness and leveraging group processes for institutional integration. Limitations and considerations to promote academic success via CATs in postsecondary education are offered.

M. Green, "‘Did my unconscious tell me about my multiple sclerosis?’: The role of the conscious, unconscious and physical self in the creation and transmission of knowledge", Dramatherapy, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 18—31, 2023.

DOI: 10.1177/02630672231187966

Abstract:
This article will first consider the relationship between the conscious, unconscious and physical triad of self. Second, the role of symbols and movement in the transmission of unconscious knowledge will be explored. Third, I will question whether unconscious knowledge can be created and transmitted before this knowledge has been consciously experienced. My personal experience will be presented as an example. Suggestions will then be offered to therapeutic practitioners for adaptations to practice when working with clients with chronic disabilities.

E. L. Lee, M. E. Morris, C. Rowe, M. Moreno and J. Navarro, "A content analysis on race in drama therapy empirical research", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 45—67, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00119_1

Abstract:
Drama therapy empirical research has the potential to support growth within the profession, but changes are still needed to address a lack of racially diverse perspectives represented in studies. A Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) research sub-committee of the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) was formed and members took on the task of reading full-text available articles listed in the NADTA empirical references list (N~=~123) with the aim of identifying representations of race within the research through a content analysis. Our team found limited examples of both author-identified race information and contextualized participant racial demographics. When race was presented, most often as descriptive statistics alone, contextual information about culture or other relevant supportive literature was often lacking. Further research and a more systematic critical review of existing drama therapy empirical studies are needed to formulate recommendations for addressing racial disparities within drama therapy research.

S. Birnkammer and C. Calvano, "A Creative and Movement-Based Blended Intervention for Children in Outpatient Residential Care: A Mixed-Method, Multi-Center, Single-Arm Feasibility Trial", Children, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 207, 2023.

DOI: 10.3390/children10020207

Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic led to psychological distress among children and adolescents. Due to multiple psychosocial burdens, the youth in residential care were especially exposed to an increased risk of mental health problems during the pandemic. In a multi-center, single-arm feasibility trial, N = 45 children and adolescents aged 7–14 years were allocated to a 6-week blended care intervention, conducted in six outpatient residential child welfare facilities. The intervention covered a once weekly face-to-face group session for guided creative (art therapy, drama therapy) and movement-oriented (children’s yoga, nature therapy) activities. This was accompanied by a resilience-oriented mental-health app. Feasibility and acceptance analyses covered app usage data and qualitative data. Effectiveness was determined by pre-post comparisons in quantitative data on psychological symptoms and resources. Further, subgroups for poorer treatment outcome were explored. The intervention and app were considered to be feasible and were accepted by residential staff and the children. No significant pre-post changes were found across quantitative outcomes. However, being female, being in current psychosocial crisis, a migration background, or a mentally ill parent were correlated with change in score of outcomes from baseline. These preliminary findings pave the way for future research on blended care interventions among at-risk children and adolescents.

E. Leshem and D. Harel, "A Patchwork Quilt", GeroPsych, 2023.

DOI: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000325

Abstract:
This paper presents a qualitative case study of a drama-therapy group for older adults at an adult daycare center in Israel. It explores the therapeutic processes in the group in terms of drama therapy and positive aging theory. The group included 12 participants between the ages of 70 and 90, who met for 10 months for 2-hour weekly sessions with a drama therapist (the first author). We used the therapist’s records as data and qualitatively analyzed them. The analysis revealed three main themes: (a) movement arousing memories inherent in the body; (b) the contribution of music to autobiographical memory; (c) transformation and change in the life story through dramatic resonances. These findings shed light on the contribution of drama therapy to support older adults at varied functioning and cognitive levels, and to promote positive aging.

N. L. Sajnani, M. Willemsen and J. D. Butler, "A scoping review of observed benefits of Developmental Transformations (DvT)", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 273—315, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00133_1

Abstract:
Developmental Transformations (DvT), a practice involving interactive, improvisational play in pairs or groups, has gained international appeal as a therapeutic intervention for different populations in a variety of health, care and recreational contexts. However, a rigorous review of the benefits of DvT has not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to review extant literature for the observed benefits of DvT, identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations concerning future research including identifying possible areas for outcome measurement for preliminary studies. The authors, who each completed training in this approach, conducted a scoping review of English-language, published, peer-reviewed and grey DvT literature through 2021. From an initial 745 records retrieved through databases and a manual search, 51 publications met criteria, which, when analysed using in-vivo and pattern coding, resulted in a total of seventeen categories of observed benefits ascribed to DvT. These included six general categories – relational, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural and physical benefits – and eleven complex categories of benefits to participants across the lifespan. In addition to benefits for participants, benefits of DvT were also observed and reported for facilitators, therapists, teachers and supervisors engaged in this practice. This review revealed inconsistencies regarding the reporting of practitioner training, frequency, format, population, intended goals, assessment measures and outcomes. Future studies with increased experimental rigor, standardized outcome measures and consistent reporting are recommended.

J. S. Frydman and C. Mayor, "A Scoping Review on the Use and Potential of School-Based Drama Therapy to Enhance Socio-emotional Skills in Early Childhood", Early Childhood Education Journal, 2023.

DOI: 10.1007/s10643-023-01471-1

Abstract:
Drama therapy incorporates play, imaginary engagement, embodiment, and perspective taking to promote interpersonal skills and affective functioning. Existing school-based drama therapy (SBDT) research has demonstrated utility with select populations; however, much of the SBDT literature has featured disparate findings. Absent from the current literature is a thorough synthesis of the benefits of SBDT for socio-emotional development in early childhood, an age cohort that may be well suited for drama therapy due to the method’s theoretical and practical focus on action, symbolism, and play. A scoping review was conducted to answer the research question: What is the use and potential of SBDT to enhance socio-emotional skills in early childhood? Following a thorough database and manual search, 406 articles were identified and, after screening, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. Based on the results, practice recommendations include the use of metaphor, distance, and life-drama connection to enhance socio-emotional skills, using dramatic play as a tool to address adverse experiences, and applying SBDT to support specific clinical populations. Policy recommendations include the use of SBDT within a public health trauma approach and the need for ecological integration of SBDT into schools. Research recommendations include the need for a broad-level articulation of a scaffolded SBDT research agenda in schools focused on socio-emotional skills and recommendations specific to methodological and reporting rigor.

E. Keiller, M. Tjasink, J. Bourne, D. Ougrin, C. E. Carr and J. Y. F. Lau, "A systematic review of dramatherapy interventions used to alleviate emotional distress and support the well‐being of children and young people aged 8–18 years old", JCPP Advances, 2023.

DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12145

Abstract:
Background Dramatherapy, a creative form of psychotherapy, may be a useful treatment for child and adolescent mental health. As there is a growing evidence base, this systematic review sought to identify, describe and evaluate dramatherapy with children and adolescents who were experiencing emotional distress (anxiety, depression and trauma) in order to inform future research in this area. Methods Seven databases (PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE and Cochrane) were searched for peer-reviewed articles exploring dramatherapy as a treatment for child and adolescent emotional distress. Hand searches of relevant journals were also conducted. Two reviewers coded articles for eligibility and independently appraised papers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Details relating to intervention and participant characteristics were extracted and, where data were available, effect sizes on measures relating to emotional distress were calculated. Results Fifteen papers were included. Studies showed that dramatherapy was often delivered in schools (46%) and clinical settings (20%) and was more frequently delivered to adolescents (53%) (>11~years) than children (26%) (8–11~years). Dramatherapy was used as a treatment for diagnostically heterogeneous groups (40%), for emotional and behavioural difficulties (33%) and following a shared, traumatic, experience (20%). Seven papers reported relevant quantitative data however, just three of these studies were controlled and none were blinded. Pre-to-post intervention effect sizes ranged from d~=~0.17 to d~>~2 yet samples were small and participant response to treatment was not always consistent. The largest effects were seen in dramatherapy employed following trauma and in clinical settings. Medium to large effects were also seen in early intervention school-based dramatherapy. Conclusion Despite promising results with regards to the treatment of child and adolescent emotional distress, the evidence base for dramatherapy is small and methodologically flawed. Larger, methodologically robust trials should test the efficacy of dramatherapy in future research.

E. Keiller, E. Melvin, M. Ivers, R. Lambie and J. Bourne, "A systematic review of dramatherapy interventions which are used to support adult participants’ mental health in forensic settings", The Arts in Psychotherapy, pp. 102096, 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2023.102096

Abstract:
A growing number of people in the criminal justice system require mental health care. At the same time, in the UK at least, gaining access to forensic mental health services is becoming increasingly difficult. Dramatherapy, which may be a useful treatment in forensic settings, such as prisons and secure hospitals, has not before been systematically reviewed in this context. Seven databases and 10 journals were searched for all available literature. From 6724 sources, 12 papers were suitable for inclusion. Data relating to participant and intervention characteristics, methods used to measure effect, and qualitative and quantitative effects were extracted. Quantitative data were used to calculate effect sizes (CohenÔÇÖs d) and qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Varied participant and intervention characteristics suggest flexibility in provision, however, forensic dramatherapy was most often delivered in the UK (33%) to groups (66%) of male (75%) adults with personality disorder (42%). Effects were measured both qualitatively and quantitatively; the use of quantitative outcome measures (42%) and the collection of participant feedback (42%) were most popular. Effect sizes ranged from d = 0.01 to d = 1.25. Large effects were seen with regards to reduced anger and increased emotional activation, however, studies were often uncontrolled. Qualitative results suggest that participants experienced new ways of being, were able to express themselves and felt supported by the group or therapist. The quantitative and qualitative results of forensic dramatherapy suggest promise, however, the evidence base is currently small. Further, methodologically strong research is encouraged.

L. W. Miles, J. L. Valentine, L. J. Mabey, E. S. Hopkins, P. J. Stodtmeister, R. B. Rockwood and A. N. H. Moxley, "A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Treatments for Adolescent and Adult Sexual Assault Victims", Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, pp. 10783903231216138, 2023.

DOI: 10.1177/10783903231216138

Abstract:
BACKGROUND Sexual assault (SA) is a serious crime that is a prevalent mental and public health problem. AIMS Addressing the needs of SA victims and providing appropriate treatment are essential to reduce potential adverse short- and long-term outcomes. METHODS Our team undertook an extensive systematic literature review (published between January 2006 and July 2021) to provide evidence-based mental health intervention recommendations for adolescent and adult victims of SA. Where SA-specific research was limited, the literature and clinical practice guidelines on treatments for trauma-induced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were reviewed to provide additional information to formulate recommendations. RESULTS Findings strongly support several primary psychotherapy treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, narrative exposure therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy. Complementary (aerobic exercise, art, drama, and music therapy) and pharmacological treatments were explored. CONCLUSIONS Mental health nurses who provide services for victims of SA can utilize this overview to guide recommendations for treatment of SA trauma and related PTSD symptoms to mitigate the short- and long-term negative impacts after a traumatic event. When victims of SA receive optimal mental health treatments, our communities benefit as victims heal and recover.

B. M. Williams, "An arts-based autoethnographic exploration of a Black woman witnessing Slave Play: The audience’s the thing", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 155—175, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00124_1

Abstract:
This autoethnographic arts-based study explores how racial composition of theatre audiences impacts a Black woman’s witnessing experience during a play that contends with racial trauma. Employing Christine Mayor’s embodied tableau method, it examines the experience of a Black drama therapist viewing Jeremy O’Harris’ Slave Play three different times – twice in the context of predominantly white audiences and once with a predominantly Black audience. The research question was ‘how does racial composition of the audience impact the experience of witnessing Slave Play for the Black drama therapist?’ What I found was that witnessing performances about racial trauma in predominantly white audiences increased my feelings of discomfort, invasive exposure and decreased capacity for presence. Conversely, witnessing performances about racial trauma during a BLACK OUT theatre performance fostered and inspired connection, joy and presence. These relational–cultural complexities underscore the necessity of considering audience composition, engagement and responses when exploring topics related to racial trauma in performance. They furthermore underscore the relational potentials of theatre audiences for drama therapy performances and beyond.

T. Constien and J. Junker, "Analysis of the body of literature based on a new drama therapy literature database", The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 82, pp. 101989, 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2022.101989

Datei : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197455622001101?dgcid=author#fig0025

Abstract:
Recent years have seen an influx in publications in the field of drama therapy. However, this growth has so far not been comprehensively quantified. This article presents the results of a bibliometric output analysis based on a new comprehensive drama therapy literature database. The development of the new database is presented, and related initiatives are outlined. The study analyses journal articles indexed in the new database with an explicit focus on drama therapy that are published between 2000 and 2021 (N~=~345) by several quantity indicators. The analysis finds significant growth in publications per year, as well as a significant trend towards more collaboration within the field. Articles are predominantly from the United Kingdom and the United States and published in journals specifically focused on drama therapy. Although there is a high number of authors in the field, only a few have published more than one article. Further, this analysis finds a lack of systematization within publication structures in the field leading to issues of visibility of drama therapy publications. These findings indicate the importance of a drama therapy exclusive database from which scholarly activity within the field is aggregated, shared, and developed.

H. Wengrower, "Arts Informed Research: Research on the Relationships between Immigrant/Refugee Children and Children Born in the Host Country", Creative Arts in Education and Therapy, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 109—119, 2023.

DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2023/9/15

Abstract:
The field of Social Cognitive Psychology has traditionally been the focal point for research- ing relationships between immigrants and those considered natives in the host countries within social science literature. However, the author considers this paradigm insufficient to compre- hend the intricate dynamics. The emotional and unconscious undercurrents in these interactions remain unexplored. Drawing on a background in dance movement therapy, drama therapy, and psychodrama, the researcher introduced clinical arts therapy tools to address this gap. Focusing on girls and boys, drama emerged as the most fitting method. This article provides a glimpse into a novel model of drama groups developed as part of an extensive year-long research program. Initially chosen based on the study’s focus and participants’ age, the approach eventually aligned with the broader framework of Arts Informed Research (AIR).

M. L. Gamboa, "Astrodrama: Exploring the use of astrological archetypes in drama therapy for Filipinos in the United States", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 101—127, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00122_1

Abstract:
There is a dearth of empirical research in drama therapy integrating other disciplines, particularly with BIPOC adult populations. The present qualitative study examines the research question: what do the Filipinos in the United States experience in Astrodrama and what meaning does it offer them? Four Filipino-identified participants engaged in a virtual drama therapy protocol, Astrodrama, over the course of five weeks. Based on semi-structured individual and group interviews, this article highlights the benefits, challenges, cultural influences and engagement in the protocol.

A. Hughes, "At the intersection: Role Theory and the schizophrenia spectrum", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 323—330, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00135_7

Abstract:
Clients with severe and persistent mental illnesses are often subject to biased definitions of health and wellness in western psychiatry. Therefore, the playspace becomes a site of potential for the client and the therapist to engage in a collaborative process of understanding and responsiveness. The following commentary outlines an individual drama therapy process that uses a flexible version of the role profile assessment; this intervention supports a client’s nuanced self-exploration. It also provides a shared language for the drama therapist to better understand their client’s inner reality in contrast to the repetitive, reductive narrative of the chronically mentally ill patient.

A. D. -. Stevens, "BART, the Black American Role Taxonomy: A culturally expansive approach to role theory and method", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 81—99, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00121_1

Abstract:
This article will investigate how performance can identify racialized archetypes, stereotypes and roles located in therapeutic spaces. It will present ways we can utilize these stereotypes to create and expand upon Landy’s role method and role theory to empower Black Americans to claim their identity. This research has been conducted as an autoethnographic study in order to create an open dialogue about racialized roles that surfaced in a therapeutic theatre production and in clinical practice. Issues regarding race are difficult to discuss and present fierce levels of discomfort in clinical spaces. This article highlights the necessity to continue meaningful conversations about race in the field of drama therapy. Further, this work looks to contribute to the development of cross-cultural practices in drama therapy.

S. Bilodeau, "Bridge to the Silence: Integrative Dramatherapy with Selective Mutism", Creative Arts in Education and Therapy, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 200—212, 2023.

DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2022/8/24

Datei : https://caet.inspirees.com/caetojsjournals/index.php/caet/article/view/412

Abstract:
This article is presented as a clinical case study in research and the arts that explores the journey of a 7-year-old girl with selective mutism, and her growth through an integrative intervention that combined dramatherapy, systemic, behavioral, and attachment-informed approaches. Sessions took place in Shanghai, China. Gorla et al. (2017) [Without words. Different children in different contexts (Trans.). A.G. Editions] and Perednik (2016) [The selective mutism treatment guide: Manuals for parents, teachers, and therapists: Still waters run deep. Oaklands] propose that the significant others of a person with selective mutism can become therapeutic agents of change, and through this lens, the child’s family, peers, and school staff became involved. Through the use of play and the therapeutic relationship and the coming together of specialties and community, it is posited that the client found her voice again, enhancing her relationships and embarking on a journey of lasting change. The dramatherapy-based, multimodal intervention provides an example of clinical practice intended to assist therapists, parents, schools, and practitioners looking to support an individual with selective mutism.

S. Breithaupt and P. Y. Yang, "Chasing the sun: Discovering Chinese therapists’, students’ and educators’ proficiency in the use of dramatic reality", Drama Therapy Review, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 331—337, 2023.

DOI: 10.1386/dtr_00136_7

Abstract:
In this clinical commentary, we present insights about introducing drama therapy in China. We highlight how challenging our own cultural assumptions regarding Chinese nationals, namely that they may feel restricted when entering dramatic reality, enabled the possibility of rich, detailed and ludic responses. Relying on our joint knowledge of drama therapy and a Chinese cultural context, with one from the United States and the other born in China, we designed a lecture and drama therapy process for Chinese nationals at a family communication conference in Beijing. We discovered diverse theatrical expression in our encounter with Chinese educators, therapists and students resulting largely from careful cultural preparation and an openness to experience.

E. Keiller, A. Murray, M. Tjasink, J. Bourne, D. Ougrin, C. E. Carr and J. Y. F. Lau, "Children and Young People’s Perception of the Active Ingredients of Dramatherapy When Used as a Treatment for Symptoms of Emotional Disorders: A Meta-synthesis", Adolescent Research Review, 2023.

DOI: 10.1007/s40894-023-00221-z

Abstract:
A developing evidence base suggests that dramatherapy, a creative form of psychotherapy, is a useful treatment for child and adolescent emotional disorders. However, little is known regarding the therapeutic benefits (??active ingredients”) of this intervention. A systematic search and meta-synthesis of secondary qualitative data reflecting participants’ perceptions of active ingredients of dramatherapy for symptoms of emotional disorders (anxiety, depression and trauma-related stress) was conducted. Six analytical themes emerged from eight studies. Dramatherapy as a learning (1) and social (2) experience and dramatherapy as a positive intervention (3) which supports self-expression (4) and emotion regulation (5) were identified as active ingredients. The skill and professionalism of dramatherapists (6) were also identified. This study is limited as the data available were not collected for the primary purpose of identifying active ingredients, more focused investigations may reveal different findings. In addition, studies contributed unequal amounts of data thus, findings may be skewed. The findings of this synthesis were benchmarked against other interventions commonly offered to children and young people with emotional distress. Three active ingredients (dramatherapy is fun, dramatherapy builds confidence, participants process difficulties through drama) were deemed unique to dramatherapy. Further research could employ mediation analysis to determine therapeutic mechanisms of change of this intervention.