What does a Drama Therapist do?
What a drama therapist does is quite similar to what a traditional therapist does: Assess a patient or client's mental health needs, consider approaches that would best serve those needs, and implement them in therapeutic sessions. But unlike traditional therapists, who usually use talk therapy as the basis of their approach, drama therapists use processes from the theater—among them role-playing, storytelling, and performance—to pursue their therapeutic goals. Drama therapy can have many different aims, including revealing something about a client's inner life, providing them the freedom to experiment with different social roles, allowing them to tell their own stories, and helping them confront traumatic experiences, any of which can lead to catharsis.
At a Glance
After earning a bachelor's degree, most drama therapists start out in the theater world as actors, playwrights, directors, teaching artists, and more. From there, there are two ways to become a registered drama therapist: Receive a master's or doctoral degree in drama therapy from a program accredited by the (NADTA), or receive a master's or doctoral degree in theater or a mental health profession with additional drama therapy training through NADTA's alternative training program. As a form of professional advancement or in order to work in a certain setting, drama therapists might also pursue licenses and certifications, which vary from state to state in procedure and requirements.
Drama therapists might work part or full-time positions at mental health facilities, schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, adult day-care centers, correctional facilities, community centers, after-school programs, shelters, group homes, or nursing homes. Drama therapists might also work out of a private practice.
Role-play and storytelling as therapeutic techniques; developing a therapeutic approach; guided improvisation; teaching; empathy; verbal communication; leadership
Ideally, they are comfortable around all kinds of people and dealing with a wide range of personal issues and challenges. Patience, empathy, and great communication skills, as well as a strong interest in drama, are vital.
Drama therapists might work on a freelance basis, piecing together a schedule out of part-time jobs in a variety of settings, or be employed full-time by a large institution, such as a hospital. Work days generally fall within standard business hours, and involve a lot of standing, moving, and directing.
