Drama Therapy for Addicts: The Phases Involved
Written by: Shelly Halstead
What is Drama Therapy and Why is it Useful?
Drama therapy is a type of psychotherapy that consists of the intentional use of drama or theater for therapeutic healing. It is often used at rehabs for addicts that are addicted to drugs or alcohol. During a drama therapy session, patients may be involved in role-playing, storytelling, and improvisation. It may also include music, art, and movement. Drama therapy allows addicts to heal and grow by taking on and practicing new positive roles.
Drama therapy is normally conducted in groups and may be verbal or non-verbal. Addicts are commonly disconnected from their emotions and feelings; as a result they may make up excuses for their behavior and addiction. Drama therapy is able to bypass these excuses and go directly to the behavior. Drama therapy is beneficial to a wide range of people. Patients who have an addiction are able to access their creative side and open up possible potentials for a positive inner change.
Addicts will be able to tell their stories, set goals for their future, and express feelings. They will be able to explore their self and build a personal relationship with their self. Drama therapy allows addicts to build new skills and change their negative behavior and thinking into a more positive one.
What does the Drama Therapist do?
A drama therapist will help the addict to recognize their needs and then develop an approach that best suits their needs. A drama therapy session may be one on one, but is often times in a group setting to allow others suffering from addiction to help. A drama therapy session may begin with the therapist asking all of the patients how they are feeling at the time. This will allow the therapist to know how to lead the group that day and what needs to be worked on.
A therapist may have the addicts be involved in storytelling, improvisation, re-enactment, and theater games. A drama therapist may use art, certain texts, or performances to make the process more creative and therapeutic. The foundation of drama therapy is based on theater, psychology, psychotherapy, and interactive and creative processes. A drama therapist who is working with recovering addicts will have knowledge of addictions and will know the best ways to help the addict in their recovery.
The Five Phases
Renee Emunah published a book in 1994 called ‘Acting for real: drama therapy process, technique, and performance’. In the book she describes five phases that may develop in a drama therapy group.
Phase One
Phase one lays the foundation that supports any work that follows. A nonthreatening and playful environment becomes established. The techniques used are usually physical and social. An addict will be able to develop new individual and group skills. The addict may develop better self-esteem and have more trust in their self and others. They will also have appreciation and awareness of the other group members.
Phase Two
Phase two will consist of the theater work that was done in phase one, but will focus on the development of the drama skills and improvisation. The addict will learn how to express and reveal themselves. Phase two will allow an addict to see and open up new sides of their self. During this stage an addict may start to see the ugly side of their own addiction and how it made them behave. Many addicts report that it is like looking through an unfamiliar mirror; they did not recognize what the addiction did to themselves.
Phase Three
Phase three of drama therapy focuses on role playing. The addicts may act out certain scenarios; such as, a drug related situation or an alcohol related conflict. An addict may play themselves or other people in their life during these sessions. The point of this is for the addict to not just repeat real life situations, but to realize there are other options that could be done in those situations. Addicts will be able to vent any feelings they are having, express new behaviors, and begin to experience a change in their life. The addict may now understand how to respond differently to personal situations in a non destructive way.
Phase Four
Phase four can be a tough stage. It is when any personal issues the addict is having are acted out through psychodrama. This phase in drama therapy may touch on experiences that may have affected the addict’s present being. Events and suppressed emotions may be accessed, and as a result the addict may feel relieved. It may feel as if a weight has been lifted off of them. During this stage of drama therapy an addict will have to look at themselves in greater detail; recognize their emotions and the negative consequences that might have happen as a result of holding in these emotions.
Phase Five
Phase five will help the addict to take all of the new skills and techniques learned through drama therapy, and apply them to the outside world. The addict will be able to understand that any new changes they have made will need to continue when treatment is finished. During this stage of drama therapy the addict will now be able to help other addicts more. They will now realize the benefits of drama therapy and many express to new admitted patients that it does work.
Some will be Different, But Similar
Not all drama therapy groups work in this way, but it will be very similar. Some addicts may not be in a treatment center long enough to experience all five phases. However, they will get an understanding of drama therapy and be able to walk away with positive learning techniques.
Drama therapy has been proven to be a successful tool in dealing with addiction.
