Biography

Nina Strongylou, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 32723), a CAMFT Certified Supervisor since 2008, a Registered Drama Therapist and Board Certified Trainer (RDT106/BCT17), and a Registered Nurse (RN 95057710).

Nina was on the Board of the North American Drama Therapy Association for six years, first as communications chair and editor-in-chief of its national newsletter Dramascope, and then as vice president and chair of NADT’s 1998 national conference. Nina also chaired the Trainer Review Committee (2002-2008) that approved and certified drama therapy trainers (BCT).

Nina has worked in Bay Area psychiatric hospitals for more than 30 years where she introduced drama therapy and supervised MFT interns and drama and creative arts therapy trainees on how to work with emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, and adults. At Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, as the drama therapist on staff for most of those years, she developed and supervised the Therapeutic Activities Department, supervised the clinical staff, and trained the MFT interns and drama therapy/creative arts therapy trainees. 

In her private practice Nina worked with individuals and couples, and trained and supervised students and clinicians in both verbal and drama therapy approaches.

In the mid 1990s Nina was a trainer in the Therapeutic Spiral Model of Psychodrama working with trauma survivors. She brought the model to San Francisco and the Middle East, where she organized and conducted trainings for clinicians and workshops for individuals who have survived trauma. From 1994-96, Nina was also on the advisory board of the Creative Lifelines for Survivors, a quarterly periodical exploring the links between creativity and healing. 

Education

M.A. Clinical Psychology with Concentration in Drama Therapy, Antioch University, San Francisco Campus

MSN. Master’s of Science in Nursing, Credentialed School Nurse, California State University, Sacramento

Diploma. Professional Directing Training, Drama Studio London, Berkeley Campus

Courses

Case Seminar, Therapeutic Communication

Publications

Strongylou, N. (2004) Supervision Case Study. The Therapist, Magazine of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, May/June 2004.

Strongylou N. with Woodard, V. (1993). Exploring Images of the Greek-Cypriot Woman Through Drama Therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, (20) 161-165.

Strongylou, N. (1993). The Dowry Tradition:  Women’s Power Through Creativity. Dramascope, XIII:2, Summer 1993.

Strongylou, N. (1993). A Bi-Cultural Perspective. Dramascope, XIII:1, Winter 1993.

Strongylou, N. (1990). Cultural Identity and Gender. Dramascope, X:1, Summer 1990.

Strongylou, N. (1990). The Motherline. The Women’s Therapy Center Times, Winter 1990.

Strongylou, N. (1990). Drama Therapy with a Sexually Abused Child. Ο ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ, Cypriot Daily Newspaper, March 1990.

Strongylou, N. (1987). Mama’s Boys:  Sexual Deprivation, Whose Fault Is It Anyway? Cyprus Life Magazine, Summer 1987.