Drama Therapy: Catalyzing Well-Being and Alleviating Depression

Research in drama therapy highlights the benefits of playful interaction and the externalization of significant experiences through dramatic expression.

Research in drama therapy highlights the benefits of playful interaction and the externalisation of significant experiences through dramatic expression.

These processes have been found to reinforce internal resources and contribute to a sense of generativity. Enactment of scenes leads to an increase in orientation to past and present, self-understanding and acceptance, and meaningful personal relationships.

Engaging with drama has resulted in increased self-acceptance, meaning-making, relationships with group members, capacity for self-reflection and self-expression, and the integrity and coherence of one's life story.

Proposed Mechanisms of Change:

The studies reviewed suggest that shifts in depressive symptoms that result from drama interventions are catalysed by mechanisms of change such as:

Physical: Engagement in playful, embodied activity contributing to sense of vitality and regulated, relaxed breathing;

Cognitive: Orientation to past and present, reinforcement of positive coping strategies, coherent organisation of self-expression, increased memory recall, facilitation of meaning making;

Emotional/intrapersonal: Use of metaphors, roles, and playful, embodied enactments providing a suitable distance to activate internal resources and externalize and communicate inner conflicts and strengths, and facilitate emotional regulation;

Social: Individual and group activities prompting increased positive social interaction.

These processes have been found to reinforce internal resources and contribute to a sense of generativity. Enactment of scenes leads to an increase in orientation to past and present, self-understanding and acceptance, and meaningful personal relationships.

Engaging with drama has resulted in increased self-acceptance, meaning-making, relationships with group members, capacity for self-reflection and self-expression, and the integrity and coherence of one's life story.


Proposed Mechanisms of Change:

The studies reviewed suggest that shifts in depressive symptoms that result from drama interventions are catalysed by mechanisms of change such as:

Physical: Engagement in playful, embodied activity contributing to sense of vitality and regulated, relaxed breathing;

Cognitive: Orientation to past and present, reinforcement of positive coping strategies, coherent organisation of self-expression, increased memory recall, facilitation of meaning making;

Emotional/intrapersonal: Use of metaphors, roles, and playful, embodied enactments providing a suitable distance to activate internal resources and externalise and communicate inner conflicts and strengths, and facilitate emotional regulation;

Social: Individual and group activities prompting increased positive social interaction.

These processes have been found to reinforce internal resources and contribute to a sense of generativity. Enactment of scenes leads to an increase in orientation to past and present, self-understanding and acceptance, and meaningful personal relationships.

Engaging with drama has resulted in increased self-acceptance, meaning-making, relationships with group members, capacity for self-reflection and self-expression, and the integrity and coherence of one's life story.


Proposed Mechanisms of Change:

The studies reviewed suggest that shifts in depressive symptoms that result from drama interventions are catalysed by mechanisms of change such as:

Physical: Engagement in playful, embodied activity contributing to sense of vitality and regulated, relaxed breathing;

Cognitive: Orientation to past and present, reinforcement of positive coping strategies, coherent organisation of self-expression, increased memory recall, facilitation of meaning making;

Emotional/intrapersonal: Use of metaphors, roles, and playful, embodied enactments providing a suitable distance to activate internal resources and externalise and communicate inner conflicts and strengths, and facilitate emotional regulation;

Social: Individual and group activities prompting increased positive social interaction.

Social processes such as social recognition, learning from others, and being able to help others that are central to life were amplified through use of processes of dramatic projection, embodiment, enactment, witnessing, and the life-drama connection, reciprocal play, affective relationality, joy, con-constructed imagination. It reinforces participants strengths, whilst dramatic projection prompts social interaction and facilitates perspective through externalization of inner conflicts. One of the most salient advantages of drama is acceptance of sadness as non-pathological and regarded as contributing to positive affect in participants. It results in stimulation of memory, encourages role flexibility, and reinforces past coping strategies.


References: Creative Arts Interventions to Address Depression

Social processes such as social recognition, learning from others, and being able to help others that are central to life were amplified through use of processes of dramatic projection, embodiment, enactment, witnessing, and the life-drama connection, reciprocal play, affective relationality, joy, con-constructed imagination. It reinforces participants strengths, whilst dramatic projection prompts social interaction and facilitates perspective through externalization of inner conflicts. One of the most salient advantages of drama is acceptance of sadness as non-pathological and regarded as contributing to positive affect in participants. It results in stimulation of memory, encourages role flexibility, and reinforces past coping strategies.



References: Creative Arts Interventions to Address Depression

Social processes such as social recognition, learning from others, and being able to help others that are central to life were amplified through use of processes of dramatic projection, embodiment, enactment, witnessing, and the life-drama connection, reciprocal play, affective relationality, joy, con-constructed imagination. It reinforces participants strengths, whilst dramatic projection prompts social interaction and facilitates perspective through externalization of inner conflicts. One of the most salient advantages of drama is acceptance of sadness as non-pathological and regarded as contributing to positive affect in participants. It results in stimulation of memory, encourages role flexibility, and reinforces past coping strategies.



References: Creative Arts Interventions to Address Depression

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