Drama Therapy Program
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Drama Therapy
Drama therapy invites us to uncover and integrate dormant aspects of ourselves, stretch our conception of who we are, and experience our intrinsic connection with others.
— Renée Emunah, Acting for Real
Drama Therapy Program
Freedom and possibility are two key words that begin to describe the essence of drama therapy. Life is finite; there are only so many experiences we can have. But in drama, the opportunities and options are endless, enabling us to dive more deeply into the richness of life.
And when the dramas are authentic and “real,” they have the power to affect, and even alter, our real lives profoundly. How therapeutically adapted dramatic processes work over time to heal wounds, make lasting changes, and help people reach their highest potential is something we have been investigating over the past 25 years.
The primary sources of drama therapy include dramatic play, theater, role play, psychodrama, and dramatic ritual. Storytelling, improvisation, self-revelatory performance,* life review, playback theater, physical theater, creative drama, puppetry, scripted pieces, and more are tailored to the needs of a specific group or individual.
Incorporated Arts
In the CIIS Drama Therapy (PDT) MA program, the following arts are selectively incorporated to enhance the therapeutic and/or aesthetic nature of the work: music, dance/movement, painting, poetry, photography, and video.In former times, acting simply meant putting on a disguise. . . . Now it’s clear that the wearing of the disguise changes the person. As he takes the disguise off, his face is changed from having worn it. The stage performance informs the life performance and is informed by it.
— Joseph Chaiken, The Presence of the Actor
*A process, articulated by Renée Emunah, involving shaping personal material into an aesthetic theatrical performance, and bringing healing to actor and audience.
